Objective Reconstitution of immune system function in immunocompromised patients depends on the presence of a functional thymus, and specifically, on the diverse array of epithelial cells within the thymic stroma. The thymus is the first organ to degenerate in normal healthy individuals, and is also sensitive to cytotoxic interventions. Therefore lack of thymic function presents a serious problem for many patients. Transplantation of neonatal human thymus can lead to successful immune system reconstitution, but limited tissue supply prevents its widespread use. Thymic epithelial stem cells (TESC), which can generate all of the epithelial subpopulations of the adult thymus, present an alternative source of transplantable cells. However, protocols for growing or generating TESC in the laboratory have not yet been developed. This proposal aims to develop robust and scalable protocols for the long-term in vitro culture of functionally validated human TESC, including standardized quality controls, and to establish optimized means of delivering these cells to immunocompromised recipients such that thymus function is fully restored. It also aims to develop optimized procedures for cryopreservation of human thymic stromal cells. These objectives relate directly to the topic identified in call HEALTH.2013.1.4-1 Controlling differentiation and proliferation in human stem cells intended for therapeutic use. THYMISTEM brings together a strong, pan-European team comprising thymus and stem cell biologists, immunologists working in humanized mouse models, haematologists expert in immune reconstitution, tissue engineers, and experts in cryopreservation and cell banking, to deliver these goals. Overall, this work will build the preclinical foundations required for development of a novel stem-cell based therapy: transplantation of thymic epithelial stem cell-based organoids for regenerative recovery of thymic - and thus immune system - function in patients. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH.2013.1.4-1 - Controlling differentiation and proliferation in human stem cells intended for therapeutic use Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2013-INNOVATION-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH EU contribution € 2 135 920,50 Address OLD COLLEGE, SOUTH BRIDGE EH8 9YL Edinburgh United Kingdom See on map Region Scotland Eastern Scotland Edinburgh Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Alan Kennedy (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution € 793 180,35 Address CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact María ángeles López Váquez (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data RUDER BOSKOVIC INSTITUTE Croatia EU contribution € 500 521,60 Address Bijenicka cesta 54 10000 Zagreb See on map Region Hrvatska Grad Zagreb Grad Zagreb Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Marijana Klasnic Kozar (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data OPEN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT UKRAINE Ukraine EU contribution € 720 000,20 Address Khoryva 1-G 04071 Kyiv See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Valentin Shichkin (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data YEDITEPE UNIVERSITY VAKIF Participation ended Türkiye EU contribution € 122 832,10 Address KAYISDAGI STREET AGUSTOS CAMPUS 26 81120 Istanbul See on map Region İstanbul İstanbul İstanbul Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ozge Kaya (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data NANOPHARMA AS Czechia EU contribution € 899 472,92 Address NOVA 306 530 09 Pardubice See on map Region Česko Severovýchod Pardubický kraj Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Katerina Lajblova (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research CORPORATION United States EU contribution € 824 527,80 Address York Avenue 1275 10065 New York See on map Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Mark Svenningson (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data