Objective
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a family of severe skin adhesion defects characterized by disfiguring blistering, infections, visual impairment, and a high risk of cancer. We showed through pre-clinical and clinical investigation that transplantation of genetically corrected epithelia leads to long-term functional correction of EB. The current vectors, however, integrate in an uncontrolled fashion in the human genome, a cause of genotoxicity and potentially severe adverse events. The objective of this project is the development and pre-clinical evaluation of new gene targeting and gene correction technology, aimed at integrating therapeutic transgenes at specific loci or at correcting genetic defects by homologous recombination. Epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) and EB are ideal targets for the design and development of such technology, which is expected to have an impact on gene therapy of many other genetic diseases. We will design and test novel viral vectors for homologous recombination based on site-specific integrases and Zn-finger nucleases, and non-viral vectors for integrating large genes and complex regulatory sequences based on vertebrate transposons. All vectors will be tested in repopulating human EpSCs in vitro and in vivo, in a pre-clinical model of xenotransplantation of human skin on immunodeficient mice. A parallel, basic research program will aim at applying existing and novel genomic approaches to the definition of transcription factors, regulatory regions and gene expression programs involved in self renewal, commitment and differentiation of EpSCs. The anticipated output of the project is the development of next-generation technology for gene transfer, and the establishment of a knowledge base for a better utilization of EpSCs in gene therapy.
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 medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.
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.
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.
ERC-2010-AdG_20100317
See other projects for this call
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.
Host institution
91002 Evry
France
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.