Project description
First antifibrotic therapy for kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with gradual loss of kidney function and can progress to end-stage renal disease, requiring dialysis or transplantation. In CKD, an excessive accumulation of matrix connective tissue components known as fibrosis destroys the kidney tissue and constitutes a key pathological mechanism. However, there are no therapies targeting fibrosis in CKD. The ERC-funded FibroTarg project is testing an antifibrotic drug that targets the process of fibrogenesis and may halt the progression to end-stage renal disease. Researchers will test the drug in advanced kidney fibrosis organoids and in vivo models and explore its commercial potential. The ultimate goal is to develop a transformative therapy for CKD.
Objective
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease that is prevalent in 10% of the developed world and develops as a result of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, glomerulonephritis or acute kidney injury. Over time, CKD can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD); a condition that can only be treated through hemodialysis or kidney transplantation, posing a severe medical, societal and economic challenge. Fibrosis is recognized as a key pathological mechanism in CKD, responsible for slowly destroying the tissue architecture of the kidney. Current therapies for CKD alleviate symptoms of the disease by controlling hypertension and hyperglycemia, but, while fibrosis is as a promising therapeutic target, no antifibrotic therapy for the kidney have reached the clinic. Hence, there is an urgent need for disease-modifying and curative treatments that can halt fibrosis.
In FibroTarg we will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of Fibrolisine, a first-of-its-kind anti-fibrotic drug candidate, for the treatment of CKD. Our preliminary data has confirmed a unique expression profile of our therapeutic target and reduced fibrosis onset in in vivo knockout models without side-effects after kidney injury. Hence, Fibrolisine is expected to target the process of fibrogenesis and halt the progression to ESRD in early-stage CKD patients. Through the activities in FibroTarg project, we aim to demonstrate the antifibrotic potential of Fibrolisine in advanced human kidney fibrosis organoid models and in vivo models of kidney injury. Concurrently, we will investigate the commercial potential of Fibrolisine by analyzing the commercial landscape and develop an initial commercialization strategy.
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 clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - 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.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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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-2023-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.
52074 Aachen
Germany
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.