Project description
Enhancing high-throughput drug screening with stem cells
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a type of stem cell generated by reprogramming adult cells, typically from skin or blood samples, into a pluripotent state. Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into many different cell types in the body. Funded by the European Research Council, the hiPSCmore project aims to enhance high-throughput imaging (imHTS) for drug discovery and regenerative medicine using human iPSCs. The idea is to engineer fluorescent sensors into human iPSCs, thereby reducing screening expenses and enhancing efficiency. The study will assess the technological feasibility of this approach and analyse market dynamics, seeking to capture a larger share of the HTS market.
Objective
"In hiPSCmore (read hiP-See-More), my team and I will engineer fluorescent sensors in the DNA of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) so we can See More during high-throughput imaging screenings (imHTS) for drug discovery and regenerative medicine.
Since hiPSCs can differentiate in most cell types in the human body, they are the ideal cell source for more predictively screening therapies. Yet, hiPSCs are expensive to maintain and require external reagents to visualize pathophysiological changes, which adds to the screening cost and complexity. In fact, the major hurdle in adopting hiPSCs for imHTS has been the price increase from <0.10 $/data point to 2+ $/data point.
In the context of our ERC Stg, we genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for cell structure, function, and cell cycle progression directly into hiPSCs for in-vitro modeling of heart development. With those sensors, we can visualize pathophysiological changes through reagents provided by the cells themselves. Thus, the more experiments we conduct, the cheaper they become. We believe this is the strategy to bring hiPSCs into imHTS, where testing millions of compounds vanishes an experiment's marginal cost. Like software.
To explore this opportunity, we envision three main objectives.
1. Technology feasibility. We will scale up the production of our SeeMore hiPSCs and validate their cost-effectiveness in drug screening and regenerative medicine applications.
2. Business feasibility. We will analyze market dynamics and customer preferences in the drug screening and regenerative markets to define the most efficient go-to-market strategy.
3. Executive management. We will work with stakeholders in our advisory board to delineate IPR, business strategy, and future fundraising opportunities for a SeeMore spin-off company.
Through these activities, the SeeMore spin-off will incorporate the right mix of tech development and business savvy in its own DNA, so it can ""seize more"" of the HTS market."
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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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) ERC-2023-POC
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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.
27100 Pavia
Italy
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.