Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ORBITAL (Ocular Research By Integrated Training And Learning)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-09-01 al 2024-02-29
Diseases of the posterior segment of the eye are rapidly increasing, partly due to an ageing population, which affects the entire EU (~20% of Europe’s population now over 65). One such condition, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), is a leading cause of blindness in people over 50, and the number of Europeans living with some form of AMD is expected to increase to 77 million by 2050. In the case of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), as many as 28 million Europeans could suffer from visual impairment due to this disease alone. As such, ORBITAL has worked towards aiding the management of complications associated with such chronic diseases. Despite accounting for approximately 55% of ocular conditions, significantly less than half of ocular product sales target the posterior segment due to the technical difficulties in developing safe, effective and easy-to-use formulations. These diseases represent a considerable and growing burden on patients and healthcare systems throughout the world and given the statistics, there is a worrying lack of researchers with the necessary interdisciplinary skills being trained to combat such increasing burdens. Thus, ORBITAL’s intrinsic training expertise has made it a vital tool in bridging this particular skills gap.
The ORBITAL ETN focused on the enhanced delivery of drugs for the treatment of posterior segment diseases of the eye. With a uniquely qualified and outstanding collaborative network of European and global experts, from academic, clinical and industrial sectors, ORBITAL has trained ESRs in materials science, nanotechnology, animal modelling, enhanced in vitro testing, in vivo ocular modelling, analytical chemistry and drug discovery, all under the overarching principle of drug delivery. Engagement with patients, patient groups and clinicians throughout the entirety of the training programme ensured that patient-oriented solutions remained at the centre of all research activity. With this multi-pronged approach, ORBITAL established itself as a leader in innovative ocular drug delivery technology that is both patient-centred and industry disrupting.
All researchers contributed to and completed the required deliverables, training, outputs, and publications to ensure all aspects of the ORBITAL programme were completed. All researchers who have not yet graduated are expected to finish in 2024. Severe impacts from COVID19 meant that for many researchers, lab access was reduced, along with travel and secondment training. Despite this, ORBITAL pivoted to online and virtual secondments where possible. ESRs received extensions through various local and national government assistance programmes, which will ensure their graduation. All ESRs who have already graduated have moved into full-time employment in research organisations either as post-doctoral researchers or lecturers.
The ORBITAL ETN focused on the enhanced delivery of drugs for the treatment of posterior segment diseases of the eye. With a uniquely qualified and outstanding collaborative network of European and global experts, from academic, clinical and industrial sectors, ORBITAL has trained ESRs in materials science, nanotechnology, animal modelling, enhanced in vitro testing, in vivo ocular modelling, analytical chemistry and drug discovery, all under the overarching principle of drug delivery. Engagement with patients, patient groups and clinicians throughout the entirety of the training programme ensured that patient-oriented solutions remained at the centre of all research activity. With this multi-pronged approach, ORBITAL established itself as a leader in innovative ocular drug delivery technology that is both patient-centred and industry disrupting.
All researchers contributed to and completed the required deliverables, training, outputs, and publications to ensure all aspects of the ORBITAL programme were completed. All researchers who have not yet graduated are expected to finish in 2024. Severe impacts from COVID19 meant that for many researchers, lab access was reduced, along with travel and secondment training. Despite this, ORBITAL pivoted to online and virtual secondments where possible. ESRs received extensions through various local and national government assistance programmes, which will ensure their graduation. All ESRs who have already graduated have moved into full-time employment in research organisations either as post-doctoral researchers or lecturers.
ORBITAL has divided its research into three scientific work packages.
WP3 focuses on novel biocompatible materials for drug delivery to the eye, aiming to extend the duration and availability of treatments, navigate ocular drug transport barriers, and enhance implantable material drug stores, prioritizing safety and efficiency. Achievements include drug release mathematical models, preliminary device characterizations, and efficacy and safety assessments through ex vivo or in vivo studies.
WP4 develops innovative nanoformulations to improve drug delivery to the eye's rear via anterior application, addressing drug residence and bioavailability challenges through nanotechnology. Progress includes modeling for target drug release, nanomaterial formulation reports covering encapsulation and size, and safety and efficacy evaluations of nanoformulations.
WP5 is advancing ocular models to better replicate physiological conditions, supporting the identification of effective drug delivery technologies. Outputs include characterizations of delivery platforms, development of enhanced ex vivo and novel in vivo models for technology assessment, and a mathematical model predicting drug levels in ocular tissues.
Throughout, ORBITAL has published 35 Gold Open Access articles, demonstrating its commitment to accessible scientific communication.
WP3 focuses on novel biocompatible materials for drug delivery to the eye, aiming to extend the duration and availability of treatments, navigate ocular drug transport barriers, and enhance implantable material drug stores, prioritizing safety and efficiency. Achievements include drug release mathematical models, preliminary device characterizations, and efficacy and safety assessments through ex vivo or in vivo studies.
WP4 develops innovative nanoformulations to improve drug delivery to the eye's rear via anterior application, addressing drug residence and bioavailability challenges through nanotechnology. Progress includes modeling for target drug release, nanomaterial formulation reports covering encapsulation and size, and safety and efficacy evaluations of nanoformulations.
WP5 is advancing ocular models to better replicate physiological conditions, supporting the identification of effective drug delivery technologies. Outputs include characterizations of delivery platforms, development of enhanced ex vivo and novel in vivo models for technology assessment, and a mathematical model predicting drug levels in ocular tissues.
Throughout, ORBITAL has published 35 Gold Open Access articles, demonstrating its commitment to accessible scientific communication.
With the prevailing impact of PSD on aging populations globally, the ORBITAL ITN stands to make a significant impact on the treatment of PSD and the overall affordability and accessibility for patients.
Potential Impact:
• Because of the prevalence of PSD including DR and AMD, the quality of life for patients seeking alternative, less invasive treatment methods would vastly improve;
• ORBITAL has a focus on the Patient and Public Involvement on research, and the input from the key recipients of any ocular therapeutic technology ensures that ORBITAL is on track not just to disrupt the current ocular therapeutic industry, but in a way that is useful and wanted by those in need of novel treatments;
• ORBITAL has ensured that 15 researchers exited the programme trained in Ocular Drug Delivery, ready to enter the field with skills in innovation, entrepreneurship, lab sciences, and help to accelerate the development of novel drug discovery and delivery technology for PSD.
Key accomplishments of the ORBITAL project included significant advancements in drug delivery technologies, with notable progress reported in Work Packages 3, 4, and 5. Despite facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the project adapted by transitioning to virtual platforms for research and dissemination, thereby ensuring continuity and expanding its reach. The project made substantial contributions to scientific literature in the field of ocular drug delivery, with its researchers producing a volume of high-quality publications that enriched the field and set new directions for future research. ORBITAL emphasized engagement with both the scientific community and the public through workshops, conferences, and online courses, showcasing its commitment to knowledge sharing and fostering a collaborative research environment.
ORBITAL's digital strategy effectively amplified its impact, utilizing its website and social media channels to disseminate research findings and engage with a broader audience. The project's global outreach initiatives played a crucial role in building a vibrant scientific community around ocular drug delivery, encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange across borders. The methodologies and findings developed by ORBITAL have laid a foundation for ongoing research in the field, with a focus on innovation and collaboration to ensure the sustainability and relevance of its outcomes for future endeavors. Additional funding applications have gone in to various regional, national, and international collaborative funding agencies to support the development of these findings and move this research down the translational pipeline.
Potential Impact:
• Because of the prevalence of PSD including DR and AMD, the quality of life for patients seeking alternative, less invasive treatment methods would vastly improve;
• ORBITAL has a focus on the Patient and Public Involvement on research, and the input from the key recipients of any ocular therapeutic technology ensures that ORBITAL is on track not just to disrupt the current ocular therapeutic industry, but in a way that is useful and wanted by those in need of novel treatments;
• ORBITAL has ensured that 15 researchers exited the programme trained in Ocular Drug Delivery, ready to enter the field with skills in innovation, entrepreneurship, lab sciences, and help to accelerate the development of novel drug discovery and delivery technology for PSD.
Key accomplishments of the ORBITAL project included significant advancements in drug delivery technologies, with notable progress reported in Work Packages 3, 4, and 5. Despite facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the project adapted by transitioning to virtual platforms for research and dissemination, thereby ensuring continuity and expanding its reach. The project made substantial contributions to scientific literature in the field of ocular drug delivery, with its researchers producing a volume of high-quality publications that enriched the field and set new directions for future research. ORBITAL emphasized engagement with both the scientific community and the public through workshops, conferences, and online courses, showcasing its commitment to knowledge sharing and fostering a collaborative research environment.
ORBITAL's digital strategy effectively amplified its impact, utilizing its website and social media channels to disseminate research findings and engage with a broader audience. The project's global outreach initiatives played a crucial role in building a vibrant scientific community around ocular drug delivery, encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange across borders. The methodologies and findings developed by ORBITAL have laid a foundation for ongoing research in the field, with a focus on innovation and collaboration to ensure the sustainability and relevance of its outcomes for future endeavors. Additional funding applications have gone in to various regional, national, and international collaborative funding agencies to support the development of these findings and move this research down the translational pipeline.