Objective
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disorder affecting 1/5000 male births, leading to progressive muscle wasting and early mortality. Current gene therapy strategies for muscular dystrophies have shown partial benefits but remain limited by systemic toxicity, inefficient transduction of muscle stem cells (MuSCs), and a continuous turnover of muscle fibres that progressively reduces the therapeutic effect over time. To address these bottlenecks, we propose a receptor-targeted gene delivery platform based on adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) engineered to selectively transduce MuSCs. Restoring Dystrophin expression in this rare but regenerative cell population may allow durable, stem cell-driven correction of muscle fibres in DMD.
Building on strong preliminary findings, we have identified candidate MuSC-enriched cell-surface markers and will generate high-affinity ligands (DARPins) against these targets. DARPins will be incorporated into AAV capsids blinded to their natural receptors, creating “DART-AAVs” targeting MuSCs through defined receptors while reducing transduction of non-target cells. DART-AAVs will be combined with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools to restore Dystrophin expression in DMD mouse models. This PoC will deliver first-generation MuSC-targeted DART-AAV vectors for in vivo validation. We will also refine a translational strategy including IP protection, market analysis, and engagement with industrial and clinical stakeholders.
By focusing on MuSC targeting, this approach aims to reduce off-target toxicities, lower required viral loads, and exploit the intrinsic regenerative capacity of stem cells to sustain long-term muscle repair. We aim to deliver a MuSC-targeted gene delivery platform with strong clinical and commercial potential, for DMD and related muscle diseases. If successful, our PoC will pave the way for novel cell-type-focused gene therapies not only for DMD but also for other degenerative diseases.
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 sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology muscular dystrophies duchenne muscular dystrophy
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Programme(s)
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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
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-POC
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75724 Paris
France
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