Objective The visual pathway is a component of the central nervous system (CNS) and therefore is not regenerative. Acute optic nerve injury, ischemic optic neuropathy and glaucoma are conditions that initially lead to partial blindness and eventually could lead to total blindness. Extensive neuron and retinal ganglion cells (RGC) death is evidenced in these pathologies. Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) is a cell secreted protein that participates in the axonal guidance pathways. Partner TAU was the first to show that Sema-3A is also capable of inducing neuronal cell death. Elevated levels of Sema3A were than found in glaucoma. TAU further showed the viscous role of Sema3a that is mediating the vast RCG apoptosis following optic nerve injury. Importantly, marked inhibition of RGC loss was achieved when axotomized eyes were co-treated by intravitreous injection of antibodies against the Sema3A providing the proof of concept for the therapeutic approach to inhibit the Sema3A pathway following optic nerve injury. This concept was recently validated by partner SIC who developed a small molecule weight inhibitor of Sema3A and showed that this inhibitor promotes neural regeneration of damaged axons. Acute or chronic assault to neural cells create an immediate death of part of the population and a signal for further death of the remaining cells close to the damaged area. The project goal is to develop a therapeutic approach to stop further death of neural cells by providing prolonged inhibition of the apopototic pathway of Sema-3A using antibody targeted to this protein or a low MW inhibitor of sema3A. The Sema3A inhibitors would be constantly released from a novel intraocular biodegradable implant. The clinical efficacy of this approach will be evaluated in two common devastating pathologies: optic nerve injury and glaucoma. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineophthalmologyglaucomanatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH.2012.2.4.5-1 - Technological approaches to combating sensory impairments Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2012-INNOVATION-2 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY Address Ramat aviv 69978 Tel aviv Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Lea Pais (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all NICAST LTD Israel EU contribution € 1 294 320,00 Address Yodfat 2 northern industraial zone 71291 Lod See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact David Simhon (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data SYNOVO GMBH Germany EU contribution € 1 170 936,00 Address Paul ehrlich str 15 72076 Tuebingen See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Tübingen Tübingen, Landkreis Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Michael Burnet (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution € 1 173 037,00 Address Calle serrano 117 28006 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Alberto Sereno Alvarez (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data ANAXOMICS BIOTECH SL Spain EU contribution € 466 160,00 Address Calle diputacio 237, p 1 pta 1 08007 Barcelona See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Mireia Coma (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
