Project description
Innovative therapies for beta hemoglobinopathies
Beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease are caused by mutations affecting the synthesis or the structure of the adult hemoglobin (Hb) beta chain. The current treatment is the transplantation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from an HLA-matched donor. Transplantation of autologous, genetically modified HSCs is an attractive therapeutic option for patients lacking a suitable donor. The genome-editing approaches using site-specific nucleases have been explored by many groups, and the EU-funded DITSB project proposes to exploit targeted base editing to develop novel, efficacious and safe strategies for beta hemoglobinopathies. The strategies will be tested in human adult erythroid cell lines and patient HSCs, differentiated in vitro and in vivo into mature red cells to evaluate editing efficiency, fetal Hb expression, phenotypic cell correction and biosafety.
Objective
Beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD) are caused by mutations affecting the synthesis or the structure of the adult hemoglobin (Hb) beta-chain. The only definitive cure is transplantation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from an HLA-matched donor, an option available to <30% of the patients. The clinical severity of beta-hemoglobinopathies is alleviated by the co-inheritance of mutations causing expression of fetal gamma-globin in adult life - a condition termed hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). Transplantation of autologous, genetically modified HSCs is an attractive therapeutic option for patients lacking a suitable donor. To this aim, genome editing approaches based on the use of site-specific nucleases have been explored by many groups, including ours. These approaches may either revert the single point mutation causing SCD or reactivate fetal globin expression, by mimicking HPFH mutations or by decreasing the level of BCL11A, a master repressor of fetal Hb synthesis. Site-specific nucleases, however, generate double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the genome and raise safety concerns for clinical applications, particularly when used in DSB-sensitive HSCs. In this proposal, we aim at exploiting targeted base-editing to develop novel, efficacious and safe strategies for beta-hemoglobinopathies without generating DSBs. This will be attempted by (i) correcting the SCD-causing mutation, (ii) mimicking HPFH mutations in the gamma-globin promoters, or (iii) modulating the activity of a BCL11A erythroid-specific enhancer. These approaches will be tested in human adult erythroid cell lines and patient HSCs, differentiated in vitro and in vivo into mature red cells to evaluate editing efficiency, fetal Hb expression, phenotypic cell correction and biosafety. The ultimate goal of the project is to provide sufficient proof of efficacy and safety to enable the clinical development of base-edited HSCs for the therapy of beta-hemoglobinopathies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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.
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-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG
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75654 PARIS
France
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