Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SINERGIA (advanced technologieS for drug dIscovery and precisioN mEdicine: in vitRo modellinG human physiology and diseAse)
Reporting period: 2019-11-01 to 2021-10-31
A key step in the drug development process is to predict information on safety, efficacy and mechanisms of action of a candidate molecule as early as possible in the pipeline (drug screening). To accomplish this aim, physiological and pathological pre-clinical models that closely approximate the human body are required. The limited capabilities of most of the existing pre-clinical screening tools, unable to meet the physiological relevance required to screen out failing drug candidates, reflect in the current weak performances of drug discovery: high attrition rates indeed affect the process of taking drugs from lab to market. Despite emerging new technologies exist with potential for advancing the field of in vitro modelling, their successfully implementation in the drug discovery pipeline to make it more efficient is still challenging. This is also imputable to a lack of structured dialogue between academic technology providers, market-oriented and regulatory-aware CROs, Biotech and Pharma companies, which finally affects the research, training and development pipeline. SINERGIA aims at integrating a training network where academic and non-academic actors contribute to unravel the potential of the synergistic and rational use of four key bioengineering technologies. In particular, SINERGIA features academic leading experts of i) organs-on-chip and microfabrication technologies; ii) bioreactor and tissue engineering; iii) 3D Bioprinting; iv) induced-pluripotent human stem cells. These techniques are deployed to CROs and Biotech Consortium members that will ensure rational development, exploitation, validation and compliancy with regulatory and industrial aspects. Ultimately, this concerted action will lead to advanced models of human physiology and diseases to be introduced in preclinical stages of an innovative and improved drug discovery pipeline.
SINERGIA aims to provide breakthrough strategies for the implementation of new in vitro preclinical platforms in terms of innovative technologies, biological models and drug screening approaches in the effort of bridging the gap between current, simplistic in vitro cultures and faithful and effective future physiological models.
SINERGIA aims at improving the dialogue among the main stakeholders in the drug discovery field, and at developing advanced models of human physiology and diseases, to be ultimately introduced in the preclinical stages of the drug discovery pipeline.
SINERGIA provides career development and training opportunities for 15 researchers who are in the first 4 years of their research careers (Early-Stage Researchers, ESRs). The Consortium will enrol 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs): 9 ESRs based at Universities, 4 ESRs at companies, and 2 ESRs at hospitals.
SINERGIA aims to provide breakthrough strategies for the implementation of new in vitro preclinical platforms in terms of innovative technologies, biological models and drug screening approaches in the effort of bridging the gap between current, simplistic in vitro cultures and faithful and effective future physiological models.
SINERGIA aims at improving the dialogue among the main stakeholders in the drug discovery field, and at developing advanced models of human physiology and diseases, to be ultimately introduced in the preclinical stages of the drug discovery pipeline.
SINERGIA provides career development and training opportunities for 15 researchers who are in the first 4 years of their research careers (Early-Stage Researchers, ESRs). The Consortium will enrol 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs): 9 ESRs based at Universities, 4 ESRs at companies, and 2 ESRs at hospitals.
The SINERGIA project started officially on 1st November 2019. The scientific work has been divided in 3 work packages, tackling open issues in the drug development pipeline from different angles, namely "Advanced models for drug benefit" (WP2), "Advanced models for drug safety" (WP3) and "Advanced models for precision medicine" (WP4). In particular, each WP includes the development of 5 paradigmatic models, each carried out by an ESR. By using the enabling technologies available in the Consortium ((macro-scale bioreactors, meso-scale 3D bioprinting, micro-scale organs-on-chip, cell-scale iPSCs) ESRs are building these models within Individual Research Projects, all in the framework of PhD programs.
While in the first year, ESRs defined the specific technical requirements for their project, during the second year of the project they carried on the preliminary validation so to be ready to exploit the newly developed platforms for biological validations expected during the last year.
While in the first year, ESRs defined the specific technical requirements for their project, during the second year of the project they carried on the preliminary validation so to be ready to exploit the newly developed platforms for biological validations expected during the last year.
SINERGIA approaches a scientific topic of great impact and importance in the biomedical field, likely to undergo a progressive implementation and additional growth in the near future. The issue of drug preclinical tests receives attention by scientists and industrial players in the biomedical sector. It is predictable that pharmaceutical companies will increasingly adopt innovative solutions and technical approaches to tackle the attrition rates and high costs of Drug Development Process. ESRs will thus take part in a frontier research project and the expertise gained will be highly appealing to biomedical and pharmaceutical research players in the near future, increasing the chances of ESRs obtaining a bright and fruitful career in a prosperous research field.
SINERGIA tackles the scientific problem through multiple biomedical approaches. The SINERGIA consortium includes experts in in vitro drug screening models at different scales and using diverse emerging technologies (macro-scale bioreactors, meso-scale 3D bioprinting, micro-scale organs-on-chip, cell-scale iPSCs). The recruited fellows will be exposed to a broad range of cutting-edge equipment and methodologies and they will thus receive a comprehensive multidisciplinary research training, not readily achievable through standard PhD programmes. This will substantially enhance career perspectives and prospects of ESRs recruited in SINERGIA at two main levels: i) Short-term- after completing their PhD programme, ESRs will be highly versatile and will have wider opportunities in the job market: their extended range of expertise may be used in other medical fields where technologies and approaches covered by SINERGIA are applied, thus increasing the likelihood of getting a high-profile job; ii) Long-term- the exposure of ESRs to multiple approaches and their high versatility will have impact on the quality of the research produced in their PhD and future careers. ESRs will be more likely to tackle and solve research-related problems and thus able to develop top-level research paths.
SINERGIA strongly involves recruited fellows in dissemination and outreach activities. ESRs will be encouraged to publish the results of their activities, to participate in international events, such as conferences, workshops, summer schools, and to interact with a wide audience, not limited to the scientific community (e.g. regulatory experts from non-academic partners). These activities will provide the recruited fellows with networking opportunities and social skills practising, and ESRs will benefit from a network of international contacts that will be helpful for their future careers.
SINERGIA provides specific, highly qualified training on transferable skills. The exposure to dedicated training activities on transferable skills, such as courses, seminars, schools and workshops, will dramatically contribute to ESRs formation. Transferable skills will help ESRs to gain maturity and independency much faster than PhD candidates not involved in MSCA projects. These talents and abilities will also travel with ESRs throughout their lives, increasing their opportunities and mitigating (or even favouring) career changes.
SINERGIA tackles the scientific problem through multiple biomedical approaches. The SINERGIA consortium includes experts in in vitro drug screening models at different scales and using diverse emerging technologies (macro-scale bioreactors, meso-scale 3D bioprinting, micro-scale organs-on-chip, cell-scale iPSCs). The recruited fellows will be exposed to a broad range of cutting-edge equipment and methodologies and they will thus receive a comprehensive multidisciplinary research training, not readily achievable through standard PhD programmes. This will substantially enhance career perspectives and prospects of ESRs recruited in SINERGIA at two main levels: i) Short-term- after completing their PhD programme, ESRs will be highly versatile and will have wider opportunities in the job market: their extended range of expertise may be used in other medical fields where technologies and approaches covered by SINERGIA are applied, thus increasing the likelihood of getting a high-profile job; ii) Long-term- the exposure of ESRs to multiple approaches and their high versatility will have impact on the quality of the research produced in their PhD and future careers. ESRs will be more likely to tackle and solve research-related problems and thus able to develop top-level research paths.
SINERGIA strongly involves recruited fellows in dissemination and outreach activities. ESRs will be encouraged to publish the results of their activities, to participate in international events, such as conferences, workshops, summer schools, and to interact with a wide audience, not limited to the scientific community (e.g. regulatory experts from non-academic partners). These activities will provide the recruited fellows with networking opportunities and social skills practising, and ESRs will benefit from a network of international contacts that will be helpful for their future careers.
SINERGIA provides specific, highly qualified training on transferable skills. The exposure to dedicated training activities on transferable skills, such as courses, seminars, schools and workshops, will dramatically contribute to ESRs formation. Transferable skills will help ESRs to gain maturity and independency much faster than PhD candidates not involved in MSCA projects. These talents and abilities will also travel with ESRs throughout their lives, increasing their opportunities and mitigating (or even favouring) career changes.