NEutron Capture-enhanced Treatment of neurotoxic Amyloid aggRegates

Objective

NECTAR proposes an alternative and revolutionary strategy to address AD (Alzheimer’s Disease) treatment, suggesting and investigating a therapy based mainly on nuclear physics principles and phenomena, i.e. neutron capture nuclear reactions and structural damage of AD Aβ aggregates induced by ionizing radiations (IRs). AD is the most common cause of dementia. There is no cure and no new FDA medication has been approved since 2002. NECTAR aims to develop, test and prove the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a Capture-Enhanced Neutron Irradiation of Aβ aggregates exploiting the synergy between an external beam of low energy neutrons which irradiate the whole brain and specifically engineered radiation enhancers capable of increasing the administered dose only in the Aβ aggregate site. NECTAR will develop: 1) biocompatible probes containing Gd/B-enriched molecules able to cross the BBB and target selectively the Aβ aggregates; 2) a detailed modelling, validate by innovative dosimetric measurements, of the secondary radiations set in motion at μm and nm scales and related to: (a) the different types of Aβ aggregates and to their radio-induced structural modifications which further relate to neurotoxicity and biological effects, (b) the macroscopic irradiation of the brain and the compatibility with its tolerance assuming a prolonged, highly fractionated low energy neutron irradiation protocol. NECTAR brings an interdisciplinary network of research teams from 7 academics: UNIPV (neutron irradiation), UNITO (probes preparation and testing), MNEGRI (AD mouse models), SU (cellular effects of IRs at low doses and low dose rates), IRSN (IRs metrology), UKESSEN (AD clinics), UKJ (clinical radiotherapy, including advanced particle radiotherapy) and an innovative start-up Raylab (n-spectrometry and miniaturised dosimeters). The positive completion of NECTAR would open the route for the application of IRs-based treatments to other forms of amyloidosis and proteinopathies

Field of science

• /natural sciences/physical sciences/nuclear physics

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open

Topic(s)

• FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020 - FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking

Call for proposal

H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA

Address

Strada Nuova 65
27100 Pavia
Italy

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 255 565

Participants (7)

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO

Italy

EU contribution

€ 651 305

Address

Via Giuseppe Verdi 8
10124 Torino

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

ISTITUTO DI RICERCHE FARMACOLOGICHE MARIO NEGRI

Italy

EU contribution

€ 665 500

Address

Via Mario Negri 2
20156 Milano

Activity type

Research Organisations

RAYLAB SRL

Italy

EU contribution

€ 606 000

Address

Via Monte Di Pieta 2
24043 Caravaggio

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

INSTITUT DE RADIOPROTECTION ET DE SURETE NUCLEAIRE

France

EU contribution

€ 233 107,50

Address

Av De La Division Leclerc 31
92260 Fontenay Aux Roses

Activity type

Research Organisations

STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET

Sweden

EU contribution

€ 656 585

Address

Universitetsvagen 10
10691 Stockholm

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM ESSEN

Germany

EU contribution

€ 39 500

Address

Hufelandstrasse 55
45147 Essen

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Universitätsklinikum Jena

Germany

EU contribution

€ 30 000

Address

Bachstraße 18
07743 Jena

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments