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Mechano-activated Extracellular Vesicle Based Repair of Bone

Project description

Bone-regenerative medication against osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition associated with a decrease in bone mass and mineral density, which renders bones fragile and easy to break. Conventional treatments for osteoporosis include exercise, supplements and medications that stop the overactivation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts responsible for the imbalance in bone homeostasis. The EU-funded EVERBONE project will develop and commercialise a novel medication that promotes bone regeneration and healing in osteoporosis. It is based on osteocyte-derived extracellular vesicles and mimics the effect of physical exercise. Given the high prevalence of osteoporosis in women and men over the age of 50, this new therapeutic option is expected to improve the health of millions. 

Objective

Every 30 seconds a person suffers an osteoporosis-related bone fracture in Europe, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs estimated at €36billion annually. Current anti-catabolic therapeutics are associated with severe side effects and are purely preventative, while the only anabolic treatment plateaus at 6 months. This has resulted in a crisis in osteoporosis treatment. Therefore, the aim of EVERBONE is to develop and commercialise a new anabolic multitargeted medicinal product for bone regeneration that mimics the beneficial effects of physical exercise, by recruiting endogenous cells to promote angiogenesis, osteogenesis and bone formation. Building on the discovery that osteocyte-derived mechanically activated extracellular vesicles (MAEVs) mediate the anabolic bone forming response to physical exercise, this project will develop novel bioreactor systems to increase MAEV yield in vitro and scale up for clinical use. Secondly, it will identify a standard mechanical conditioning procedure to generate optimised angiogenically and osteogenically primed MAEVs. Finally, preclinical evaluation of MAEV treatment will be performed in a model of osteoporosis and bone healing, whereby it is expected that MAEVs will localize to bone and mobilise endogenous endothelial and stem cell populations to enhance bone regeneration in osteoporosis and improved healing rates in bone defects. This regrowth of bone will overcome current limitations of anti-resorptive treatments, reducing the risk of fracture and thus the financial burden of treatment. The project will leverage the applicants experience in bone mechanobiology to develop a new product with significant commercial potential. Therefore, the impact of EVERBONE will be multifaceted: it will transform how osteoporosis is treated, it will create economic value through the commercialisation of IP, and most importantly it will improve patient experience and their long-term health and well-being.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2018-PoC

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Host institution

THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 149 891,00
Address
COLLEGE GREEN TRINITY COLLEGE
D02 CX56 Dublin
Ireland

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Region
Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 149 891,25

Beneficiaries (1)

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