Objective
Organ transplantation remains the only definitive treatment for end-stage heart, lung, liver or kidney disease. Early transplant outcomes are now generally excellent, dramatically reducing patients’ mortality and morbidity. Nevertheless, transplantation still faces significant obstacles, especially long-term immunosuppression-related toxicity and chronic decline of transplant function, which are the leading causes of transplant failure. To break these barriers, which represent a very significant societal and economic burden in the EU, there is a need for innovative therapies to lessen our reliance on conventional immunosuppression and better control non-resolving inflammation. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is now being investigated as a personalized, adjunct immunosuppressive therapy in some organ transplant settings. However, ECP is regarded as a controversial therapy, primarily because current understanding of its pharmacological actions is incomplete, but also because there remain questions about optimal manufacturing processes, quality-control and personalized clinical indications. The exTra project asks whether a better mechanistic understanding of ECP can guide us more efficiently towards novel applications. Specifically, exTra brings together European experts in clinical transplantation, immunology, pharmaceutical development, computational biology and medical device manufacture to address key questions through a coordinated, interdisciplinary effort. exTra proposes 10 independent doctoral research projects with the ambition of providing its trainees with a comprehensive understanding of basic and translational immunology, especially relating development and licensing of new immunotherapies. Through its research and training activities, the exTra project will contribute to scientific advancement and innovation in Europe, ultimately leading to societal and economic benefits stemming from clinical innovations in transplant immunotherapy and beyond.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- social sciencessociologydemographymortality
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunotherapy
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinenephrologykidney diseases
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral NetworksCoordinator
93053 Regensburg
Germany
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Participants (7)
91054 Erlangen
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79106 Freiburg
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1090 Wien
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08036 Barcelona
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08916 Badalona Barcelona
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1006 AN Amsterdam
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28029 Madrid
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Partners (13)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
WC2R 2LS London
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
53100 Siena
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
TW18 3AG Staines Upon Thames
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
13009 Marseille
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
37077 Göttingen
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
W12 0BZ London
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
08916 Badalona
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
08007 Barcelona
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
79098 Freiburg
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
93053 Regensburg
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
1012WX Amsterdam
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
91054 Erlangen
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