Project acronym BETASCREEN
Project Validation of an in vivo translational medicine approach for the treatment of diabetes and diabetes complications
Researcher (PI) Yngve Per-Olof BERGGREN
Host Institution (HI) KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2016-PoC, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary Validation of an in vivo translational medicine approach for the treatment of diabetes and diabetes complications
To develop new drugs for treatment of diabetes, there is an immediate need for an in vivo approach allowing the assessment of β-cell function and survival in the living organism non-invasively, longitudinally and at single-cell resolution. We therefore transplant pancreatic islets into the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE) of mice for functional microscopic imaging. In the ACE islets become vascularized and innervated, and various aspects of β-cell function and survival can be readily imaged. Functional studies demonstrate that engrafted islets in the eye serve as representative reporters of endogenous islets in the pancreas of the same animal. We have extensively in vitro tested fluorescent biosensors that reflect key-events in β-cell function and survival. Following intraocular transplantation of human islets expressing biosensors in their β-cells into healthy or diabetic mice, they will allow non-invasive, longitudinal in vivo monitoring of 1) Ca2+ handling, 2) functional β-cell mass, 3) apoptosis and 4) proliferation. Based on the in vitro tested biosensors, the major objective is to establish a robust pharma-industry in vivo platform for validating newly developed diabetes treatment lead-compounds in early drug development. This screening service shall be performed on a commercial basis. The milestone of this proposal, to be achieved within 18 months, is the validation of the in vivo platform for testing the effects of new potential diabetes medicines on human β-cell function and survival in normal and diabetic mice.
Summary
Validation of an in vivo translational medicine approach for the treatment of diabetes and diabetes complications
To develop new drugs for treatment of diabetes, there is an immediate need for an in vivo approach allowing the assessment of β-cell function and survival in the living organism non-invasively, longitudinally and at single-cell resolution. We therefore transplant pancreatic islets into the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE) of mice for functional microscopic imaging. In the ACE islets become vascularized and innervated, and various aspects of β-cell function and survival can be readily imaged. Functional studies demonstrate that engrafted islets in the eye serve as representative reporters of endogenous islets in the pancreas of the same animal. We have extensively in vitro tested fluorescent biosensors that reflect key-events in β-cell function and survival. Following intraocular transplantation of human islets expressing biosensors in their β-cells into healthy or diabetic mice, they will allow non-invasive, longitudinal in vivo monitoring of 1) Ca2+ handling, 2) functional β-cell mass, 3) apoptosis and 4) proliferation. Based on the in vitro tested biosensors, the major objective is to establish a robust pharma-industry in vivo platform for validating newly developed diabetes treatment lead-compounds in early drug development. This screening service shall be performed on a commercial basis. The milestone of this proposal, to be achieved within 18 months, is the validation of the in vivo platform for testing the effects of new potential diabetes medicines on human β-cell function and survival in normal and diabetic mice.
Max ERC Funding
149 365 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-02-01, End date: 2018-07-31
Project acronym NOVITREP
Project Novel viral therapy through targeting DNA repair
Researcher (PI) Thomas HELLEDAY
Host Institution (HI) KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary Natural epidemics and outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases are a growing problem internationally. RNA viruses remain under constant attention due to the recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak with potential causal relationship with microcephaly of newly born babies and Ebola virus (EBOV) and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causing life threatening hemorrhagic fever, demonstrating how zoonotic viruses pose a major global health concern. There is an ongoing need to discover novel therapies to battle these pathogenic viruses given that no specific therapy exists. Developing new antiviral treatments by targeting host cell proteins needed in the viral life cycle is an emerging strategy to improve therapeutic power and reduce acquired drug resistance.
Based on the results from the ERC grant Genetic Networks as a tool for anti-Cancer Drug Development (GENECADD), we have developed potent inhibitors to DNA repair proteins that disturbs repair of oxidative DNA lesions. To our surprise, we observed, in collaboration with Public Health Agency of Sweden, that these inhibitors potently prevent ZIKV, EBOV and CCHFV viral replication in human cells, suggesting that these inhibitors may be used as antiviral therapeutics. Further investigation into the possible mechanism of action revealed that our inhibitors prevented the repair of oxidative damage to RNA.
Here, the overall aim is to (1) further develop and optimize our inhibitors as a novel antiviral target and demonstrate proof of concept, (2) explore and secure IP (3) develop a business plan and (4) perform a market analysis. The overall goal is to develop general antiviral treatments made available to virus-infected individuals through a public foundation in low-income areas or through a company in the Western world.
Summary
Natural epidemics and outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases are a growing problem internationally. RNA viruses remain under constant attention due to the recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak with potential causal relationship with microcephaly of newly born babies and Ebola virus (EBOV) and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causing life threatening hemorrhagic fever, demonstrating how zoonotic viruses pose a major global health concern. There is an ongoing need to discover novel therapies to battle these pathogenic viruses given that no specific therapy exists. Developing new antiviral treatments by targeting host cell proteins needed in the viral life cycle is an emerging strategy to improve therapeutic power and reduce acquired drug resistance.
Based on the results from the ERC grant Genetic Networks as a tool for anti-Cancer Drug Development (GENECADD), we have developed potent inhibitors to DNA repair proteins that disturbs repair of oxidative DNA lesions. To our surprise, we observed, in collaboration with Public Health Agency of Sweden, that these inhibitors potently prevent ZIKV, EBOV and CCHFV viral replication in human cells, suggesting that these inhibitors may be used as antiviral therapeutics. Further investigation into the possible mechanism of action revealed that our inhibitors prevented the repair of oxidative damage to RNA.
Here, the overall aim is to (1) further develop and optimize our inhibitors as a novel antiviral target and demonstrate proof of concept, (2) explore and secure IP (3) develop a business plan and (4) perform a market analysis. The overall goal is to develop general antiviral treatments made available to virus-infected individuals through a public foundation in low-income areas or through a company in the Western world.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-07-01, End date: 2018-12-31
Project acronym SOCCERMATICS
Project Soccermatics: data for football fans and clubs
Researcher (PI) David SUMPTER
Host Institution (HI) UPPSALA UNIVERSITET
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2016-PoC, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary Data plays an increasingly important role in sport, from monitoring of fitness of athletes to success statistics in baseball. In football (soccer) the team performance is more important than the performance of any one individual. While every team has its star players, it is the ability of the team to function as a unit that is the key to its success. For the data analyst, this presents a challenge: how to measure, understand and improve team performance. My research during an ERC funded action (IDCAB) has revolved around devising exactly this type of analysis methods. Starting with my work on measuring and understanding animal groups in the ERC action, I have gone on to develop a set of tools for looking at the collective action on the football pitch.
In May 2016 my popular science book, Soccermatics, will be published by Bloomsbury press. This book details some of the work on football analysis I have done up until now, and will give me, and Soccermatics, significant name recognition. But it is jus a starting point: the idea of this PoC proposal is to develop a set of commercial tools for both clubs and fans to better understand football.
I will use data provided by sports performance company Opta to provide consultancy to football clubs, online football analysis for fans and copyright protected applications for visualising football. I will build the business through three initial projects: (1) visualisation for online content; (2) a ‘manage your own team’ app; (3) football club analysis tools. The business will be focussed first on the UK market and scale up to a European and World market.
The main innovation highlights of the action are:
1, Methodology for data analysis established during ERC starting-grant action.
2, Visually striking and intuitive approach to football data. Giving fans and clubs what they want.
3, Multiple avenues for commercialisation.
4, Scalability through delivery of copyrighted software.
Summary
Data plays an increasingly important role in sport, from monitoring of fitness of athletes to success statistics in baseball. In football (soccer) the team performance is more important than the performance of any one individual. While every team has its star players, it is the ability of the team to function as a unit that is the key to its success. For the data analyst, this presents a challenge: how to measure, understand and improve team performance. My research during an ERC funded action (IDCAB) has revolved around devising exactly this type of analysis methods. Starting with my work on measuring and understanding animal groups in the ERC action, I have gone on to develop a set of tools for looking at the collective action on the football pitch.
In May 2016 my popular science book, Soccermatics, will be published by Bloomsbury press. This book details some of the work on football analysis I have done up until now, and will give me, and Soccermatics, significant name recognition. But it is jus a starting point: the idea of this PoC proposal is to develop a set of commercial tools for both clubs and fans to better understand football.
I will use data provided by sports performance company Opta to provide consultancy to football clubs, online football analysis for fans and copyright protected applications for visualising football. I will build the business through three initial projects: (1) visualisation for online content; (2) a ‘manage your own team’ app; (3) football club analysis tools. The business will be focussed first on the UK market and scale up to a European and World market.
The main innovation highlights of the action are:
1, Methodology for data analysis established during ERC starting-grant action.
2, Visually striking and intuitive approach to football data. Giving fans and clubs what they want.
3, Multiple avenues for commercialisation.
4, Scalability through delivery of copyrighted software.
Max ERC Funding
125 319 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-08-01, End date: 2019-01-31
Project acronym xMEMSDBS
Project Dried Blood Spot sampling at home in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Researcher (PI) Nils Göran STEMME
Host Institution (HI) KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2016-PoC, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary A new disposable sampling device that allows quantitative measurements from Dried Blood Spots (DBS) has been developed with support of the ERC AdG xMEMS.
The technology consists of a small microfluidic chip made of laminated structured plastic foils and paper with the specific function to meter and store an exact blood volume as a DBS. The chip can be used directly by a patient to leave a capillary blood sample straight from a finger prick. This
simplifies blood sampling, offers comfort for the patient and reduces costs for health care providers.
In this project we shall perform activities to:
Have a first complete product (proposed within TDM) that works for users and is backed up by clinical test(s).
A company is formed, the business plan is worked out in detail and it is ready for a next financing round.
IPR strategy has been chosen and patent(s) on blood as well as plasma are secured accordingly.
We have worked out and tested a scalable and cost-efficient manufacturing and packaging
strategy.
We have chosen, prepared and acquired our first paying customer. We are ready to sell and have a plan for how to grow sales for defined product(s).
Summary
A new disposable sampling device that allows quantitative measurements from Dried Blood Spots (DBS) has been developed with support of the ERC AdG xMEMS.
The technology consists of a small microfluidic chip made of laminated structured plastic foils and paper with the specific function to meter and store an exact blood volume as a DBS. The chip can be used directly by a patient to leave a capillary blood sample straight from a finger prick. This
simplifies blood sampling, offers comfort for the patient and reduces costs for health care providers.
In this project we shall perform activities to:
Have a first complete product (proposed within TDM) that works for users and is backed up by clinical test(s).
A company is formed, the business plan is worked out in detail and it is ready for a next financing round.
IPR strategy has been chosen and patent(s) on blood as well as plasma are secured accordingly.
We have worked out and tested a scalable and cost-efficient manufacturing and packaging
strategy.
We have chosen, prepared and acquired our first paying customer. We are ready to sell and have a plan for how to grow sales for defined product(s).
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-10-01, End date: 2018-03-31
