Project acronym AB-SWITCH
Project Evaluation of commercial potential of a low-cost kit based on DNA-nanoswitches for the single-step measurement of diagnostic antibodies
Researcher (PI) Francesco RICCI
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2016-PoC, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary "Antibodies are among the most widely monitored class of diagnostic biomarkers. Immunoassays market now covers about 1/3 of the global market of in-vitro diagnostics (about $50 billion). However, current methods for the detection of diagnostic antibodies are either qualitative or require cumbersome, resource-intensive laboratory procedures that need hours to provide clinicians with diagnostic information. A new method for fast and low-cost detection of antibodies will have a strong economic impact in the market of in-vitro diagnostics and Immunoassays.
During our ERC Starting Grant project ""Nature Nanodevices"" we have developed a novel diagnostic technology for the detection of clinically relevant antibodies in serum and other body fluids. The platform (here named Ab-switch) supports the fluorescent detection of diagnostic antibodies (for example, HIV diagnostic antibodies) in a rapid (<3 minutes), single-step and low-cost fashion.
The goal of this Proof of Concept project is to bring our promising platform to the proof of diagnostic market and exploit its innovative features for commercial purposes. We will focus our initial efforts in the development of rapid kits for the detection of antibodies diagnostic of HIV. We will 1) Fully characterize the Ab-switch product in terms of analytical performances (i.e. sensitivity, specificity, stability etc.) with direct comparison with other commercial kits; 2) Prepare a Manufacturing Plan for producing/testing the Ab-switch; 3) Establish an IP strategy for patent filing and maintenance; 4) Determine a business and commercialization planning."
Summary
"Antibodies are among the most widely monitored class of diagnostic biomarkers. Immunoassays market now covers about 1/3 of the global market of in-vitro diagnostics (about $50 billion). However, current methods for the detection of diagnostic antibodies are either qualitative or require cumbersome, resource-intensive laboratory procedures that need hours to provide clinicians with diagnostic information. A new method for fast and low-cost detection of antibodies will have a strong economic impact in the market of in-vitro diagnostics and Immunoassays.
During our ERC Starting Grant project ""Nature Nanodevices"" we have developed a novel diagnostic technology for the detection of clinically relevant antibodies in serum and other body fluids. The platform (here named Ab-switch) supports the fluorescent detection of diagnostic antibodies (for example, HIV diagnostic antibodies) in a rapid (<3 minutes), single-step and low-cost fashion.
The goal of this Proof of Concept project is to bring our promising platform to the proof of diagnostic market and exploit its innovative features for commercial purposes. We will focus our initial efforts in the development of rapid kits for the detection of antibodies diagnostic of HIV. We will 1) Fully characterize the Ab-switch product in terms of analytical performances (i.e. sensitivity, specificity, stability etc.) with direct comparison with other commercial kits; 2) Prepare a Manufacturing Plan for producing/testing the Ab-switch; 3) Establish an IP strategy for patent filing and maintenance; 4) Determine a business and commercialization planning."
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-02-01, End date: 2018-07-31
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 CHIMERA
Project A novel instrument to identify chiral molecules for pharmaceutics and bio-chemistry.
Researcher (PI) Dario POLLI
Host Institution (HI) POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary This proposal aims at bringing to the market a revolutionary device to uniquely identify the chirality of molecules. An object is chiral if it differs from its mirror image, like our left and right hands. Chirality plays an extremely important role in two main fields: (1) Many drugs are chiral and selecting one of the two forms often enables the pharma industry to extend patent franchise, thus increasing profitability, and to improve the quality, safety and efficacy of the drug. (2) Researchers in the chemistry and biophysics labs use chirality as an indication of the 3D structural conformation of proteins and DNA, to study e.g. their secondary structure and stability under external stimuli. Spectrometers for measuring chirality already exist in the market. Many customers in the two aforementioned sectors could be interested in the new product we propose because it presents several advantages, namely a 2-fold reduction of the price, a 4-fold shrinking of the footprint and an increased information content. The ground-breaking concept (under patenting) behind this new spectrometer is to employ an ultra-stable interferometer to measure the chiral spectrum of molecules via a Fourier-transform approach and a heterodyne amplification of the signal. A first working prototype has already been realized and tested. The CHIMERA project has two main goals. (1) We aim at unleashing the innovation potential of the approach, by technically validating two prototypes in a pharmaceutical company and a biochemistry research lab, thus pushing the Technology Readiness Level of the system to the ultimate maturity required to approach the market, corresponding to TRL9. (2) We will design a complete exploitation plan, performing a thorough analysis of the market, developing a financing strategy, benchmarking our instrument against the competitors’ ones, profiling strategic partners and drafting a first version of a Business Plan to decide on the opportunity to found a start-up company.
Summary
This proposal aims at bringing to the market a revolutionary device to uniquely identify the chirality of molecules. An object is chiral if it differs from its mirror image, like our left and right hands. Chirality plays an extremely important role in two main fields: (1) Many drugs are chiral and selecting one of the two forms often enables the pharma industry to extend patent franchise, thus increasing profitability, and to improve the quality, safety and efficacy of the drug. (2) Researchers in the chemistry and biophysics labs use chirality as an indication of the 3D structural conformation of proteins and DNA, to study e.g. their secondary structure and stability under external stimuli. Spectrometers for measuring chirality already exist in the market. Many customers in the two aforementioned sectors could be interested in the new product we propose because it presents several advantages, namely a 2-fold reduction of the price, a 4-fold shrinking of the footprint and an increased information content. The ground-breaking concept (under patenting) behind this new spectrometer is to employ an ultra-stable interferometer to measure the chiral spectrum of molecules via a Fourier-transform approach and a heterodyne amplification of the signal. A first working prototype has already been realized and tested. The CHIMERA project has two main goals. (1) We aim at unleashing the innovation potential of the approach, by technically validating two prototypes in a pharmaceutical company and a biochemistry research lab, thus pushing the Technology Readiness Level of the system to the ultimate maturity required to approach the market, corresponding to TRL9. (2) We will design a complete exploitation plan, performing a thorough analysis of the market, developing a financing strategy, benchmarking our instrument against the competitors’ ones, profiling strategic partners and drafting a first version of a Business Plan to decide on the opportunity to found a start-up company.
Max ERC Funding
149 375 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-05-01, End date: 2018-10-31
Project acronym DynaCOMP
Project Assessing compounds targeting DNA replication licensing complexes as anti-tumor agents
Researcher (PI) Zoi LYGEROU
Host Institution (HI) PANEPISTIMIO PATRON
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary Cancer is a major clinical, societal and economic burden worldwide and development of novel anti-cancer therapies constitutes a major investment of public and private funds. Despite intense research over decades however, which has led to a much improved understanding of cancer biology, cancer treatment remains a challenge. This is to a large extent due to the genetic heterogeneity of cancer and the ability of cancer cells to escape treatment by constantly undergoing further genetic alterations. During our ERC funded work, we have shown that aberrations in the DNA replication licensing pathway may contribute to the genome plasticity of cancer cells, and appear a common feature of cancer cells. They may however also constitute an Achilles foot, as cancer cells appear more dependent on negative regulators of the licensing system for survival. Cancer cells may therefore be more sensitive than normal cells to compounds targeting this control (inhibition of untimely licensing). We have identified compounds which target the DNA replication licensing inhibitor Geminin. The proposed PoC study will enable us to:
- assess the efficacy and specificity of the identified compounds in cells and preclinical models and study their mechanism of action.
- investigate the potential use of these compounds for studying cell cycle processes.
- assess whether the functional imaging approaches developed under the mother ERC project, which quantify protein-protein interactions within living cells, may constitute a powerful tool for in-cell analysis of novel lead compounds.
The project thus aims to characterize, protect and commercialize novel putative anti-tumor agents as well as the in-cell methods developed for their characterization.
Summary
Cancer is a major clinical, societal and economic burden worldwide and development of novel anti-cancer therapies constitutes a major investment of public and private funds. Despite intense research over decades however, which has led to a much improved understanding of cancer biology, cancer treatment remains a challenge. This is to a large extent due to the genetic heterogeneity of cancer and the ability of cancer cells to escape treatment by constantly undergoing further genetic alterations. During our ERC funded work, we have shown that aberrations in the DNA replication licensing pathway may contribute to the genome plasticity of cancer cells, and appear a common feature of cancer cells. They may however also constitute an Achilles foot, as cancer cells appear more dependent on negative regulators of the licensing system for survival. Cancer cells may therefore be more sensitive than normal cells to compounds targeting this control (inhibition of untimely licensing). We have identified compounds which target the DNA replication licensing inhibitor Geminin. The proposed PoC study will enable us to:
- assess the efficacy and specificity of the identified compounds in cells and preclinical models and study their mechanism of action.
- investigate the potential use of these compounds for studying cell cycle processes.
- assess whether the functional imaging approaches developed under the mother ERC project, which quantify protein-protein interactions within living cells, may constitute a powerful tool for in-cell analysis of novel lead compounds.
The project thus aims to characterize, protect and commercialize novel putative anti-tumor agents as well as the in-cell methods developed for their characterization.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-07-01, End date: 2018-12-31
Project acronym GeneVision
Project Developing a cure for retinitis pigmentosa due to Usher syndrome
Researcher (PI) Alberto AURICCHIO
Host Institution (HI) FONDAZIONE TELETHON
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary The GeneVision proof-of-concept project spins from a major discovery made by the principle investigator (PI) within the RetGeneTx ERC project demonstrating that dual AAV vectors expand AAV DNA transfer capacity in the retina thus allowing delivery of genes whose size cannot be packaged in single AAVs. Thus, dual AAV vectors allow gene therapy of those inherited blinding conditions, like Usher syndrome type Ib (USHIB), Stargardt disease or other forms of retinitis pigmentosa, due to mutations in large genes from which the AAV platform, the best to date for in vivo gene therapy, was so far precluded.
GeneVision’s objective is to bring this initial proof-of-concept in animal models up to commercialization for one retinal application, USHIB, which is particularly severe and early onset. By exploiting both the Orphan Drug Designation obtained from the European Medicina Agency and two patent applications based on data generated by the PI during its consolidator ERC grant, GeneVision will support the early phase clinical development to bring this very innovative gene therapy platform for retinitis pigmentosa up to commercialization. To do so the project plans to validate the business plan already outlined in the proposal, and seek seed funding to create a start-up company which would engage in all activities required to develop a phase I/II trial. If this is successful, the longer plan is to obtain two additional rounds of funding to support a pivotal trial to complete the data required to obtain market authorization and start commercialization. . The success of this project will lay the foundations for the development of therapies for other retinal and non-retinal diseases using dual AAV vectors.
Summary
The GeneVision proof-of-concept project spins from a major discovery made by the principle investigator (PI) within the RetGeneTx ERC project demonstrating that dual AAV vectors expand AAV DNA transfer capacity in the retina thus allowing delivery of genes whose size cannot be packaged in single AAVs. Thus, dual AAV vectors allow gene therapy of those inherited blinding conditions, like Usher syndrome type Ib (USHIB), Stargardt disease or other forms of retinitis pigmentosa, due to mutations in large genes from which the AAV platform, the best to date for in vivo gene therapy, was so far precluded.
GeneVision’s objective is to bring this initial proof-of-concept in animal models up to commercialization for one retinal application, USHIB, which is particularly severe and early onset. By exploiting both the Orphan Drug Designation obtained from the European Medicina Agency and two patent applications based on data generated by the PI during its consolidator ERC grant, GeneVision will support the early phase clinical development to bring this very innovative gene therapy platform for retinitis pigmentosa up to commercialization. To do so the project plans to validate the business plan already outlined in the proposal, and seek seed funding to create a start-up company which would engage in all activities required to develop a phase I/II trial. If this is successful, the longer plan is to obtain two additional rounds of funding to support a pivotal trial to complete the data required to obtain market authorization and start commercialization. . The success of this project will lay the foundations for the development of therapies for other retinal and non-retinal diseases using dual AAV vectors.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-04-01, End date: 2018-09-30
Project acronym HYDROPHO-CHEAP
Project Commercialization of a novel method for fabricating cheap tailor–made superhydrophobic surfaces
Researcher (PI) Athanasios PAPATHANASIOU
Host Institution (HI) NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS - NTUA
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary The aim of the HYDROPHO-CHEAP project is to optimize, protect, and commercialize a recently developed methodology that allowed us to achieve “tailor-made” control of the wettability of polymer surfaces, rendering them super water-repellent.
What makes our methodology highly innovative is the fast and cheap fabrication process, and most importantly the potential of implementing it in real-life environments. With this unique method we can fabricate ‘superhydrophobic islands’ (with a spatial resolution of 100 μm in the horizontal plane) of any shape i.e. dots, stripes, polygons and interconnected shapes, in any combination. Such functional surfaces can be produced in a single and fast fabrication step, without applying any hydrophobization top coating since we process an inherently hydrophobic material.
We plan to demonstrate the capabilities that our method can offer to specific applications (microfluidic chips, fog harvesting, low flow friction surfaces) that we identified as the most prominent, protect the intellectual property that we have produced through our research and to find the optimum route-to-market in order to commercialize our research results.
Summary
The aim of the HYDROPHO-CHEAP project is to optimize, protect, and commercialize a recently developed methodology that allowed us to achieve “tailor-made” control of the wettability of polymer surfaces, rendering them super water-repellent.
What makes our methodology highly innovative is the fast and cheap fabrication process, and most importantly the potential of implementing it in real-life environments. With this unique method we can fabricate ‘superhydrophobic islands’ (with a spatial resolution of 100 μm in the horizontal plane) of any shape i.e. dots, stripes, polygons and interconnected shapes, in any combination. Such functional surfaces can be produced in a single and fast fabrication step, without applying any hydrophobization top coating since we process an inherently hydrophobic material.
We plan to demonstrate the capabilities that our method can offer to specific applications (microfluidic chips, fog harvesting, low flow friction surfaces) that we identified as the most prominent, protect the intellectual property that we have produced through our research and to find the optimum route-to-market in order to commercialize our research results.
Max ERC Funding
149 730 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-02-01, End date: 2019-07-31
Project acronym IDEAL SENSOR
Project Integrated Smart Device for Emergency Management
Researcher (PI) Gian Paolo CIMELLARO
Host Institution (HI) POLITECNICO DI TORINO
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2016-PoC, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary The project IDEAL SENSOR is developing a wearable wrist band device and a customized structural health monitoring (SHM) system for managing emergencies. The proposed system provides a comprehensive solution for indoor localization, healthcare monitoring, and other general purpose services (fitness, entertainment, health, etc.). Moreover, an infrastructure based on the structural health monitoring will be developed which include all the functionality of standard Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems (environmental monitoring, health assessment, etc.), but it performs also indoor localization. In detail, the system is composed of different environmental monitoring sensors (humidity and temperature), body signal monitoring (heart rate, body temperature, humidity, location and images), communication modules (radio frequency (RF) transceiver, GPRS/GSM, GPS and Bluetooth low energy), OLED display. Currently , the prototype has been developed and tested in a STM Nucleo-F401 board which is a developing board provided by STMicroelectronics commonly used for rapid prototyping. In order to commercialize the prototype and make it a feasible product, the current developed system should be redesigned and customized based on our needs and requirements. The electrical parts will be redesigned completely and the best available solutions (price and quality) for each sub-module and components will be used. Moreover, by miniaturizing the prototype and designing a user friendly package and software, it will get the shape of a real smart watch with more features with respect to the current ones.
Summary
The project IDEAL SENSOR is developing a wearable wrist band device and a customized structural health monitoring (SHM) system for managing emergencies. The proposed system provides a comprehensive solution for indoor localization, healthcare monitoring, and other general purpose services (fitness, entertainment, health, etc.). Moreover, an infrastructure based on the structural health monitoring will be developed which include all the functionality of standard Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems (environmental monitoring, health assessment, etc.), but it performs also indoor localization. In detail, the system is composed of different environmental monitoring sensors (humidity and temperature), body signal monitoring (heart rate, body temperature, humidity, location and images), communication modules (radio frequency (RF) transceiver, GPRS/GSM, GPS and Bluetooth low energy), OLED display. Currently , the prototype has been developed and tested in a STM Nucleo-F401 board which is a developing board provided by STMicroelectronics commonly used for rapid prototyping. In order to commercialize the prototype and make it a feasible product, the current developed system should be redesigned and customized based on our needs and requirements. The electrical parts will be redesigned completely and the best available solutions (price and quality) for each sub-module and components will be used. Moreover, by miniaturizing the prototype and designing a user friendly package and software, it will get the shape of a real smart watch with more features with respect to the current ones.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-04-01, End date: 2018-09-30
Project acronym INTER
Project Innovative Neutron source for non destructive TEsting and tReatments
Researcher (PI) Matteo PASSONI
Host Institution (HI) POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary The INTER project aims at the design and production of a proof of concept demonstrator component essential for the development of a novel, tunable and portable neutron source.
Neutron beam-based analysis (neutron diffraction, neutron activation analysis, active interrogation) and imaging (radiography, tomography) methods are a powerful tool for non-destructive testing (NDT) of materials and find numerous important applications in industry, security, and material science and technology.
Use of laser-driven ion accelerators to generate neutrons can potentially overcome the limitations of conventional neutrons sources.
Within the ERC-CoG ENSURE project, I developed a nanostructured material, used to produce a novel multi-layer target concept] allowing to enhance the laser-ion production efficiency with reduced laser requirements and, at the same time, robust enough to be adopted in a commercial targetry device, paving the way for operation with relatively low-energy, commercial, high rep-rate laser systems (1J; 1-10TW; 10-100 Hz).
Upon approval of the present INTER ERC-PoC project, I will provide an accelerator module demonstrator, based on such novel target concept, for the generation of an innovative, portable neutron source.
If successful, INTER will open the way to put on the market a ready-to-use compact accelerator module able to generate ion & neutron beams with a transportable, affordable laser system. Availability of this technology would find important applications of strong economical and societal interest, like checking for drugs and explosives concealed in luggage and cargo containers, in-situ analysis of key industrial (e.g. engine turbines blades) and electronic (e.g. to measure impurities in silicon semiconductors) components, imaging/interrogation of nuclear fuels, explosives, cultural heritage artifacts, as well as in biology, medicine, fuel cell research and geoscience.
Summary
The INTER project aims at the design and production of a proof of concept demonstrator component essential for the development of a novel, tunable and portable neutron source.
Neutron beam-based analysis (neutron diffraction, neutron activation analysis, active interrogation) and imaging (radiography, tomography) methods are a powerful tool for non-destructive testing (NDT) of materials and find numerous important applications in industry, security, and material science and technology.
Use of laser-driven ion accelerators to generate neutrons can potentially overcome the limitations of conventional neutrons sources.
Within the ERC-CoG ENSURE project, I developed a nanostructured material, used to produce a novel multi-layer target concept] allowing to enhance the laser-ion production efficiency with reduced laser requirements and, at the same time, robust enough to be adopted in a commercial targetry device, paving the way for operation with relatively low-energy, commercial, high rep-rate laser systems (1J; 1-10TW; 10-100 Hz).
Upon approval of the present INTER ERC-PoC project, I will provide an accelerator module demonstrator, based on such novel target concept, for the generation of an innovative, portable neutron source.
If successful, INTER will open the way to put on the market a ready-to-use compact accelerator module able to generate ion & neutron beams with a transportable, affordable laser system. Availability of this technology would find important applications of strong economical and societal interest, like checking for drugs and explosives concealed in luggage and cargo containers, in-situ analysis of key industrial (e.g. engine turbines blades) and electronic (e.g. to measure impurities in silicon semiconductors) components, imaging/interrogation of nuclear fuels, explosives, cultural heritage artifacts, as well as in biology, medicine, fuel cell research and geoscience.
Max ERC Funding
149 375 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-05-01, End date: 2018-10-31
Project acronym NEUROMICRONICA
Project Neuromicronica: Modular behavioural neuroscience
Researcher (PI) Mathew Ernest DIAMOND
Host Institution (HI) SCUOLA INTERNAZIONALE SUPERIORE DI STUDI AVANZATI DI TRIESTE
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary Neurological disorders, particularly dementia, constitute arguably the greatest socioeconomic challenge to the aging European continent. There is growing realization that rodents can serve as models not just for basic neurobiological processes (e.g. synaptic transmission) but also for remarkably complex, primate-like and even human-like cognitive operations such as perception, memory, economics, social interaction, and decision making. Better rodent models for cognition are necessary to test theories on the molecular basis of neurological disorders and to test therapies: only through rodent behavioral neuroscience can the circuits that give rise to cognitive operations be examined and dissected, probed and manipulated. The aim of ERC Advanced Project ‘CONCEPT’ is to understand the neuronal bases of perception, memory and decision making. To achieve this aim, we have developed innovative instrumentation incorporating the following elements: (i) awake rodent interacting with its environment, (ii) precisely controlled sensory stimuli, (iii) imaging of animal’s action, (iv) electrophysiology with moveable microelectrode arrays, (v) optogenetics, (vi) integration and management of all incoming and outgoing signals. Here, we present our plan for bringing these instruments to a stage where they can constitute the initial product line for a spin-off named NeuroMicronica. The community’s interest in NeuroMicronica is already testified by the commercialization of the electrode drive in agreement with a prestigious USA company, by NeuroMicronica’s selection in a technology startup competition, and by the enthusiastic and constructive feedback from collaborators now employing beta versions. The expected outcome of NeuroMicronica will be to make this lab’s longstanding experience in instrumentation available to the community, allowing investigators to better exploit rodent behavioral neuroscience as a model for normal and pathological human cognition.
Summary
Neurological disorders, particularly dementia, constitute arguably the greatest socioeconomic challenge to the aging European continent. There is growing realization that rodents can serve as models not just for basic neurobiological processes (e.g. synaptic transmission) but also for remarkably complex, primate-like and even human-like cognitive operations such as perception, memory, economics, social interaction, and decision making. Better rodent models for cognition are necessary to test theories on the molecular basis of neurological disorders and to test therapies: only through rodent behavioral neuroscience can the circuits that give rise to cognitive operations be examined and dissected, probed and manipulated. The aim of ERC Advanced Project ‘CONCEPT’ is to understand the neuronal bases of perception, memory and decision making. To achieve this aim, we have developed innovative instrumentation incorporating the following elements: (i) awake rodent interacting with its environment, (ii) precisely controlled sensory stimuli, (iii) imaging of animal’s action, (iv) electrophysiology with moveable microelectrode arrays, (v) optogenetics, (vi) integration and management of all incoming and outgoing signals. Here, we present our plan for bringing these instruments to a stage where they can constitute the initial product line for a spin-off named NeuroMicronica. The community’s interest in NeuroMicronica is already testified by the commercialization of the electrode drive in agreement with a prestigious USA company, by NeuroMicronica’s selection in a technology startup competition, and by the enthusiastic and constructive feedback from collaborators now employing beta versions. The expected outcome of NeuroMicronica will be to make this lab’s longstanding experience in instrumentation available to the community, allowing investigators to better exploit rodent behavioral neuroscience as a model for normal and pathological human cognition.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-04-01, End date: 2018-09-30
Project acronym NeuronAgeScreen
Project A Drug Discovery and Target Identification Screening Platform for Age-Associated Neurodegenerative Disorders
Researcher (PI) Nektarios TAVERNARAKIS
Host Institution (HI) IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary Battling human neurodegenerative pathologies, and their pervasive societal impact, is a global multi-billion Euro enterprise. Ageing is universally associated with marked decrease of neuronal function and higher susceptibility to neurodegeneration. In human populations, this is manifested as an ever-increasing prevalence of devastating neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, stroke, several ataxias, and other types of dementia. Development of therapeutic interventions against such maladies is becoming a pressing priority. Drug discovery and drug target identification are two intimately linked facets of intervention strategies aimed at effectively combating human disorders. Genes linked to human diseases often function in evolutionary conserved pathways, readily dissected in simple model organisms. Such organisms provide attractive platforms for devising and streamlining efficient drug discovery and target identification methodologies. During the course of the ERC project NeuronAge, we developed a convenient and versatile platform for high-throughput chemical compound screening based on the nematode C. elegans (Nature 521: 525; Nature 490: 213). This innovative platform uniquely combines state-of-the-art microfluidics technologies for imaging and manipulation of neurons in vivo, with the experimental prowess of C. elegans, a highly malleable genetic model, which offers a precisely defined nervous system, two features that are not available in any other organism. We propose to: (1) bring this high-throughput compound screening system to pre-demonstration stage; (2) evaluate its dependability for drug target identification and drug discovery; (3) file US and European patent applications for IPR protection; and (4) identify potential commercialization opportunities. The overarching aim is to facilitate the exploitation of the innovation generated in the context of NeuronAge towards the betterment of human health and quality of life.
Summary
Battling human neurodegenerative pathologies, and their pervasive societal impact, is a global multi-billion Euro enterprise. Ageing is universally associated with marked decrease of neuronal function and higher susceptibility to neurodegeneration. In human populations, this is manifested as an ever-increasing prevalence of devastating neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, stroke, several ataxias, and other types of dementia. Development of therapeutic interventions against such maladies is becoming a pressing priority. Drug discovery and drug target identification are two intimately linked facets of intervention strategies aimed at effectively combating human disorders. Genes linked to human diseases often function in evolutionary conserved pathways, readily dissected in simple model organisms. Such organisms provide attractive platforms for devising and streamlining efficient drug discovery and target identification methodologies. During the course of the ERC project NeuronAge, we developed a convenient and versatile platform for high-throughput chemical compound screening based on the nematode C. elegans (Nature 521: 525; Nature 490: 213). This innovative platform uniquely combines state-of-the-art microfluidics technologies for imaging and manipulation of neurons in vivo, with the experimental prowess of C. elegans, a highly malleable genetic model, which offers a precisely defined nervous system, two features that are not available in any other organism. We propose to: (1) bring this high-throughput compound screening system to pre-demonstration stage; (2) evaluate its dependability for drug target identification and drug discovery; (3) file US and European patent applications for IPR protection; and (4) identify potential commercialization opportunities. The overarching aim is to facilitate the exploitation of the innovation generated in the context of NeuronAge towards the betterment of human health and quality of life.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-05-01, End date: 2018-10-31
