Project description
Gene therapy platform could deliver therapy on demand
Genetics research has revealed many disease markers and processes and opened the door to gene therapies. Now, the EIC-funded SECURE project aims to create the world’s first self-adaptive gene therapy platform, delivering on-demand therapy with the potential for preventive therapy as well. The platform will activate synthetic gene circuits only in cells exhibiting disease-induced molecular stress, leveraging synthetic biology, AI and advanced disease modelling. The project will focus on vulnerable dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease as a test case and use midbrain organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells to test selectivity, reversibility and safety. SECURE’s progress could pave the way to preventive, adaptive, lifelong gene therapy for many progressive and complex disorders.
Objective
"What if gene therapy could think, adapt, and act only when needed? SECURE sets out to create the world’s first self-adaptive gene therapy platform ‒ a transformative leap from today’s static interventions toward programmable, intelligent therapeutics. Rather than permanently active vectors, our approach uses synthetic gene circuits that remain dormant under healthy conditions and activate only in cells exhibiting disease-induced molecular stress. This ""on-demand"" precision therapy promises unprecedented safety, efficacy, and personalisation.
As a first-in-class application, SECURE targets Parkinson’s Disease (PD) by focusing on vulnerable dopaminergic neurons identified through stress markers such as AGTR1 expression, inflammation, and oxidative damage. Using AI-guided design, we will engineer AAV and bocavirus vectors tailored for efficient blood-brain barrier (BBB) transcytosis and neuron-specific targeting, guided by human receptor maps from neurotropic viruses.
Validation will rely exclusively on human iPSC-derived midbrain organoids ‒ including mosaic models combining healthy and PD genotypes ‒ to test selectivity, reversibility, and safety. A closed-loop development pipeline will be established, where data from single-cell transcriptomics, electrophysiology, and functional assays continually refine vector design through AI feedback.
By integrating synthetic biology, AI, and advanced disease modelling, SECURE pioneers a new therapeutic paradigm for neurodegeneration and potentially for multifactorial and hereditary diseases at large. If successful, it will mark the beginning of preventative, adaptive, and lifelong gene therapy for complex human disorders.
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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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences synthetic biology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology parkinson
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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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-EIC - HORIZON EIC 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) HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
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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.
69117 Heidelberg
Germany
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.