Creating a Research Group of Excellence to develop cell and immune therapy technology to target the tumor microenvironment

StrategyThe Department of Research, Development and InnovationMedFUTURE Research CentreBiobaseFaculty Research Centres
Biblioteca „Valeriu Bologa”
Editura „Iuliu Haţieganu”
Revista Medicine and Pharmacy Reports

 

Project title: “Creating a Research Group of Excellence to develop cell and immune therapy technology to target the tumor microenvironment”

 

Contract Number: 760278/26.03.2024

Code: 106/31.07.2023

The total value of the project is 5,136,803.12 RON, of which the PNNR funding is 4,800,000.00 RON and the related VAT is 336,803.12 RON.

Project Duration: 24 months (from 26.03.2024 to 25.03.2026)

Project Director: Prof. dr. Hermann Einsele, University of Würzburg, Germany

Implementation Location: Department of Hematology – Center for Advanced Medicine Research MedFuture at the “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca

 

Summary

CAR-T cells (chimeric antigen receptor T cells) represent one of the most significant emerging therapies in hematological diseases already implemented clinically. Their novelty lies in the specific approach, wherein the cancer patient’s immune cells are genetically modified to facilitate immune responses against cancer cells and promote tumor immune rejection. Despite their initial success, CAR-T-based therapies face several limitations. Specifically, their limited range of targets restricts their therapeutic utility to certain malignancies. Thus, this project aims to address this limitation through a novel approach in the design of CAR-T constructs, which seeks to extend their targeting potential by focusing on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, the project targets the implementation of a new CAR-T design model, focused on a universal target structure with broader therapeutic application, aiming at unique target cell populations in the TME. This aims to achieve an active immunomodulatory effect by re- educating or depleting infiltrating macrophages, thereby inhibiting their pro-angiogenic and pro-tumorigenic effects. This approach can produce stronger immunostimulatory effects than conventional CAR-T cells. Another important effect of the proposed therapeutic approach is the significant reduction in the costs of CAR-T therapies, which currently place a substantial

economic burden on national health systems and patients. All these goals can be achieved under the coordination of Professor Hermann Einsele, an invaluable resource in the project’s implementation, which aims to explore and expand the therapeutic potential and accessibility of CAR-T therapies in cancers using an innovative approach, assembling a group of researchers of excellence.

 

General Objective

The general objective of this research project is to develop new tumor onco-immunology protocols in Romania and to propose new therapeutic targets for cell therapies based on CAR T technology.

 

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of the project are:

Objective 1: To develop and optimize a new CAR T-type product, advancing the immunotherapy strategy for the treatment of solid tumors.

Objective 2: To develop a preclinical experimental model of the mechanism of action of CAR T- type compounds and evaluate the in vivo efficacy of the new proposed therapeutic product, serving as the scientific basis for the further development of phase 1 trials.

 

PNRR. Finanțat de Uniunea Europeană – UrmătoareaGenerațieUE
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