Project description
Expanding brain-resident regulatory T cells to combat neurological disorders
Traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease cause inflammatory damage to the brain. Recent evidence indicates the presence of a brain-resident regulatory T cell population secreting anti-inflammatory and reparative proteins that requires Interleukin-2 to expand. Based on this observation, the EU-funded TreatBrainDamage project aims to develop a viral vector system capable of brain-specific expression of Interleukin-2 to specifically expand brain regulatory T cells. Studies on animal models of neuroinflammatory diseases show promising results and amelioration of disease phenotype. The project will undertake all the necessary validation experiments to bring this intervention to the clinic.
Objective
"A proposal to use local IL2 delivery via a viral vector to prevent and reverse the inflammatory damage that happens to the brain during neuroinflammatory diseases as diverse as traumatic brain injury, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease. In ""TissueTregs"" we identified and characterised a brain-resident regulatory T cell population, with high expression of anti-inflammatory and reparative proteins. A synthetic circuit for deliver IL2 to the brain expanded this population, without any off-target increases in circulation or the blood. In order to translate these findings beyond the scope of the original ""TissueTregs"" grant, we have moved to a viral vector system, designed to give brain-specific expression of IL2. This systems demonstrates long-lasting brain-specific expansion of the brain-resident regulatory T cell population, after only a single intravenous injection. Preliminary results demonstrate a striking ability of this treatment to prevent neurological damage in mouse models of traumatic brain injury and Multiple Sclerosis. A provisional patent has been filed to cover this invention. In this PoC grant, we will run the necessary validation and target deconvolution experiments to pave the way for this treatment to move into the clinical sphere."
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology neurodegenerative diseases dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology multiple sclerosis
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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)
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.
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-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum Pilot
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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-PoC
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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.
CB22 3AT Cambridge
United Kingdom
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.