Objective MUSCLEGUY represents a unique opportunity to commercialize a novel 3D in vitro system for screening and validation of drug candidates to treat muscle disorders. Although skeletal muscle disorders are relatively rare they pose a huge socioeconomic burden. Currently there is a lack of therapeutic options for the majority of patients. This is, for an important part, due to the lack of reliable, reproducible, and physiological relevant in vitro models of muscle disorders that accurately reflect the in vivo reality on which novel therapeutic strategies may be developed.We generated a novel 3D in vitro system of highly matured myofibers, the relevant functional unit of the muscle affected in most muscle disorders and used it to identify novel therapeutic targets of muscle disorders. During MUSCLEGUY, we will further technically optimise our in vitro system to generate human relevant disease models for muscle disorder. Such systems can be used for drug screening and validation. In addition, we will further investigate the commercial feasibility of our product by conducting an elaborate market analysis and establishing a strong IP portfolio. The ultimate aim of MUSCLEGUY is to develop a business plan to convince the relevant stakeholders. Our novel 3D in vitro system for muscle disorder has the potential to meet the requirements for pharmaceutical drug discovery research (HTS format, reproducible and robust) and drastically reduce the associated costs and the number of animals used, in order to further increase the interest of the pharmaceutical industry for muscle disorders. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoverymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugs Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-PoC-2015 - ERC Proof of Concept Grant Call for proposal ERC-2015-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant Coordinator INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA MOLECULAR JOAO LOBO ANTUNES Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Avenida prof egas moniz 1649 028 Lisboa Portugal See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa 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 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA MOLECULAR JOAO LOBO ANTUNES Portugal Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Avenida prof egas moniz 1649 028 Lisboa See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa 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
