Objective Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of death in western countries: coronary artery disease is the major cause of SCD in older subjects while inherited arrhythmogenic diseases are the leading cause of SCD in younger individuals. After 25 years dedicated to research of the molecular bases of heritable arrhythmias, the PI of this proposal now intends to pioneer gene therapy for prevention of SCD: a virtually unexplored field. The development of molecular therapies for rhythm disturbances is a high risk effort however, if successful, it will be highly rewarding. The PI has envisioned an ambitious and comprehensive project to target two severe inherited arrhythmogenic diseases: dominant catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and Long QT syndrome type 8 (LQT8). The availability of a clinically relevant model is critical to ensure clinical translation of results: the team will exploit an existing CPVT model and will engineer a knock-in pig to model LQT8. The PI and her team will investigate innovative strategies of gene-delivery, gene-silencing and gene-editing to the heart comparing efficacy of different constructs and promoters. The team will also carefully engineer novel gene-therapy approaches to avoid the development of regional inhomogeneity in protein expression that may facilitate proarrhythmic events. Such a comprehensive approach will provide a most valuable core of knowledge on the comparative efficacy of a broad range of molecular strategies on the electrical milieu of the heart. It is expected that these results will not only benefit CPVT and LQT8 but rather they will foster development of gene therapy for other inherited and acquired arrhythmias. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasescardiac arrhythmiamedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineobstetricsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineembryology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-ADG-2014 - ERC Advanced Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-ADG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA Net EU contribution € 1 334 029,00 Address Strada nuova 65 27100 Pavia Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Pavia Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA Italy Net EU contribution € 1 334 029,00 Address Strada nuova 65 27100 Pavia See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Pavia Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 AVANTEA srl Italy Net EU contribution € 380 000,00 Address Via cabrini 12 26100 Cremona See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Cremona Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 CENTRO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES CARDIOVASCULARES CARLOS III (F.S.P.) Spain Net EU contribution € 600 000,00 Address Calle melchor fernandez almagro 3 28029 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00