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H2020Doctoral network2017–2021

IMGENE · Improving Genome Editing Efficiency (IMGENE)

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2017-09-01 → 2021-08-31
EU contribution
€2,068,409
Participants
10
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Improving Genome Editing Efficiency (IMGENE)

CRISPR genome editing is a novel breakthrough technology that revolutionized biomedical and pharmaceutical research and opened up new avenues for the therapy of genetic diseases. In short, CRISPR genome editing allows to cleave genomic DNA at a specific location, which then triggers the deletion, replacement or introduction of DNA depending on the experimental conditions. Different DNA repair pathways are involved of which the homology-directed repair (HDR) is allowing specific DNA replacements and defined changes, while the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair is causing various mutations around the repair site. For gene therapy and many research questions, it would be ideal if all repair would be carried out by HDR. Under current experimental conditions, however, NHEJ is the prevalent repair method, which is a major obstacle for many potential applications of CRISPR genome editing. The IMGENE consortium consisting of 6 European research institutions, 1 pharmaceutical company, two associated industrial partners and a patient organization representing people suffering from genetic diseases, is aiming to find ways to improve HDR efficiency of CRISPR genome editing.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

CRISPR genome editing technology is considered to become the greatest technological improvement in biomedical research since the invention of the polymerase chain reaction 25 years ago and pharmaceutical companies as well as academic research are eager to apply it. However, the efficiency of introducing defined changes into the genome by CRISPR is still low, currently limiting its application in basic research, industry and gene therapy. IMGENE unites expert European research groups of academia and industry to address by innovative and complementary approaches the low efficiency of precise genome editing using CRISPR technology. To our best knowledge, IMGENE is the only concerted approach to tackle the important problem of low genome editing efficiency of CRISPR in a multidisciplinary, intersectorial manner. The IMGENE consortium consisting of 6 academic and 1 industrial beneficiary (AstraZeneca), 2 industrial partners (Taconic; MilliporeSigma), and the patient organization Genetic Alliance, aims to improve the genome editing efficiency of CRISPR by research training of 8 ESRs to unleash the full potential of this technology. Combining complementary knowledge on protein chemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology, viral vectors, transgenic mice, gene therapy, and bioinformatics present in the network, IMGENE will establish novel tools and protocols for improved CRISPR genome editing efficiency that will be of immediate benefit for health and life science research, the pharmaceutical industry, and the application of gene therapy. In addition, IMGENE addresses crucial ethical questions related to the application of genome editing technology in animals, plants, and humans, which have to be solved to gain acceptance by the society. By excellent research training of 8 ESRs on a scientifically and economically highly relevant topic and additional training in transferable skills, IMGENE will educate novel leaders with great career perspectives in industry and academia.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET · KOBENHAVNCoordinatorDenmark
  • ACADEMISCH ZIEKENHUIS LEIDEN · LeidenNetherlands
  • ASTRAZENECA AB · SodertaeljeSweden
  • GENETIC ALLIANCE UK LTD · LONDONUnited Kingdom
  • INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR E CELULAR-IBMC · PortoPortugal
  • MAX DELBRUECK CENTRUM FUER MOLEKULARE MEDIZIN IN DER HELMHOLTZ-GEMEINSCHAFT (MDC) · BerlinGermany
  • Millipore Sigma · MassachusettsUnited States
  • Taconic GmbH · CologneGermany
  • UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM FREIBURG · FreiburgGermany
  • USTAV MOLEKULARNI GENETIKY AV CR V.V.I. · Praha 4Czechia

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union