Project description
Rewiring hope for spinal cord injuries
The spinal cord is no thicker than an inch, but when it is severed, the damage is irreversible, leaving patients paralysed with no natural way for the body to repair itself. In this context, the ERC-funded SPINETRACER project is developing an implantable scaffold made of carbon-nanotube hydrogels to bridge the injury site and stimulate nerve regrowth. In rats, this approach has shown dramatic recovery of motor function after injury. SPINETRACER now aims to refine the technology, combining it with innovative imaging tools to monitor regeneration in real time. The goal is a breakthrough therapy that could one day restore movement to people living with spinal cord injury.
Objective
SPINETRACER aims to restore the lost functions of patients suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI) by providing a conductive scaffolding implant for the growth of severed nerve fibres. Not thicker than an inch, the spinal cord has no way to heal when severed. Our creative idea is to provide an artificial support that can mimic and stimulate neuronal electrical connections. This scaffold can bridge the gap created by SCI and enable the return of motor and sensitive function.
We have previously demonstrated that carbon nanotube (CNT) implants in rats lead to the recovery of motor activity in very short times after an otherwise paralyzing lesion to the spinal cord. For the first time it was possible to observe the regrowth of nerve fibres leading to restoration of motor function (published on PNAS 2020, 117, 25212). In this innovative approach, it was also possible to show that the scaffolds, when inserted in the lesion, became filled with newly sprouted nerve fibres.
The long-term objective of SPINETRACER is to take to clinical practice our novel solution for the restoration of motor functions in patients suffering from SCI. To this end, we will combine our proprietary technology, based on CNT-containing hydrogels, and our recently developed neuroanatomical magnetic resonance imaging tracer based on carbon nanodots, for precise in vivo imaging of the progression of the spinal cord regeneration, to complete our preclinical studies.
We expect to take further steps into the demonstration of technical and economic viability of this initiative by improving implant design and production processes, restoring motor function in small mammals and designing an appealing business model to exploit the asset. By the end of this Proof of Concept we expect to have acquired all the necessary data to move into the next stage of the road towards clinical implementation of the solution.
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.
- social sciences economics and business business and management business models
- engineering and technology medical engineering diagnostic imaging magnetic resonance imaging
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology implants
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-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-2024-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.
20009 San Sebastian
Spain
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.