Project description
Heart of the problem: targeted gene therapy for ACM
Developing treatments for rare heart diseases is often slow and costly due to insufficient insight into how these conditions work. The EU-funded GEREMY project aims to overcome this by creating a curative gene therapy for inherited arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). By targeting specific genetic mutations (PLN and PKP2), researchers use advanced gene-editing and delivery methods to correct defects and restore heart muscle function. The project will also develop new disease models, ensure safety through rigorous testing, prepare for future clinical trials and align with patient needs. Ultimately, GEREMY seeks to transform patient care, significantly reducing healthcare burdens and providing a roadmap for treating other genetic heart conditions.
Objective
Development of a cure for rare cardiac diseases is a risky, costly and time-consuming process, which is hampered by insufficient insight into pathophysiological mechanisms of the diseases and lack of relevant disease models.
The GEREMY consortium proposes to overcome this challenge by developing a gene therapy (GT) for inherited arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), by targeting the disease-causing PLN (non-desmosomes) and PKP2 (cardiac desmosomes) mutations. The GEREMY consortium will apply a unique parallel approach and investigate various promising GT approaches (oligonucleotide chemistries, gene editing and gene delivery). Also, the consortium will engineer disease models for proper assessment of therapeutic interventions and aims to provide in vitro & in vivo preclinical proof-of-concept for the GT.
A significant benefit compared to current technologies is that the GT has the potential to be a curative treatment for rare cardiac diseases. Based on previous successes, GEREMY will target PLN & PKP2 as a roadmap of the technology. Restoring the primary defect in the PLN & PKP2 genes that cause the disease will lead to preserving or even restoring myocardial contractility. Through this approach, GEREMY will work towards a curative treatment of inherited ACM and likely other cardiomyopathies, which significantly reduces the healthcare burden.
The project’s experts in preclinical research and cardiac genetics will deliver preclinical efficacy and safety data for the mutation correction. The partners with regulatory and clinical trial expertise (EXOM, EUF, NLHI) will prepare for immediate start of clinical trials upon project completion, and apply for orphan drug designation. EUPATI, a patient organisation and KUL ethics partner will ensure that the project is continuously aligned with patient needs and ethical perspectives. The whole consortium will contribute to communicate an disseminate the results to ensure maximum exploitation of this breakthrough technology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.1.3 - Non-Communicable and Rare Diseases
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-HLTH-2022-DISEASE-06-two-stage
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3511 EP UTRECHT
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.