Objective The past year has been exciting for oligonucleotide-based drug discovery and development. The Nobel Prize was awarded to Mello and Fire for discovering RNA interference. There was also big investment from the Pharmaceutical industry to Biotechnology companies-pioneers in oligonucleotide therapeutics such as Sirna, Alnylam and Isis, all US-based. High expectations were therefore raised but further progress is hampered by the issue of systemic delivery; siRNA oligonucleotides are ineffective in vivo whereas antisense DNA oligonucleotides can be effective for liver-specific targets only. Therefore, delivery systems are a matter of intense investigation with the most recent advances being cationic liposomes with PEGylation or diffusible PEGylation. However, these carriers face tolerability issues, non-specific immune stimulation or limited biodistribution. Novosom has developed a completely novel carrier system based on amphoteric liposomes. This incorporates structural features with unique charge-reversal properties which result into safety and performance advantages over the current best alternative carriers. The aim of this Consortium is to built on Novosom’s carrier technology to develop novel improved amphoteric liposomes with targeted delivery modalities to cells of the immune system, and to apply them for therapeutic oligonucleotide delivery to inflammatory diseases. Knowledge transfer between partners will facilitate the design of novel carriers, identification of targets and validation using in vivo models of inflammatory disease. The Consortium stems from two very successful one-to-one collaborations and proposes here a fully integrated program of translational, interdisciplinary research. Knowledge transfer between Novosom, a European leader in oligonucleotide delivery technologies, and two Academic Institutions of international standing in inflammatory disease therapeutics provides the competitiveness needed for a European team in this US-dominated field. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoverymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinflammatory diseasesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNAmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunotherapy Keywords Health sciences Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-IAPP-2008 - Marie Curie Action: "Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-IAPP-2008 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IAPP - Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) Coordinator IDRYMA IATROVIOLOGIKON EREUNON AKADEMIAS ATHINON EU contribution € 326 604,00 Address SORANOU EFESIOU 4 115 27 Athina Greece See on map Region Αττική Aττική Κεντρικός Τομέας Αθηνών Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Dimitris Raptis (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all NOVOSOM AG Participation ended Germany EU contribution € 14 254,00 Address Weinbergweg 22 06120 HALLE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Sebastian Kehres (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data PANEPISTIMIO KRITIS Greece EU contribution € 209 023,00 Address UNIVERSITY CAMPUS GALLOS 74100 Rethimno See on map Region Νησιά Αιγαίου Κρήτη Ρέθυμνο Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Christos Tsatsanis (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CENIX BIOSCIENCE GMBH Germany EU contribution € 411 104,00 Address TATZBERG 47 01307 DRESDEN See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Karen Huppertz (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
