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H2020Doctoral network2018–2022

THERACAT · Bio-orthogonal catalysis for cancer therapy

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2018-03-01 → 2022-08-31
EU contribution
€3,380,767
Participants
9
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.

Results in brief

Bio-orthogonal catalysis for cancer therapy

The global objective of the THERACAT Network is to train a new generation of researchers on the innovative topic of bio-orthogonal catalysis for cancer therapy. With the aim of establishing new and effective approaches for cancer therapies, catalytic nano- and microparticles are used. The proposed therapy consists of two steps. First these devices can be delivered or implanted in the tumour site. Second a pro-drug, that is an inactivated medicine, is given to the patient, this can circulate freely without performing any action. The nanodevices will convert this inactive compound into a potent drug able to kill the cell (catalysis). The power of this approach is that the nanoparticles will generate a high number of drugs only locally, resulting in an effective cancer therapy without the classical side effects of chemotherapy. The THERACAT consortium tackled this challenge in all its steps: from the synthesis of the catalysts to the in vivo biological evaluation. Novel pairs of catalytically active pro-drugs and catalysts have been designed and tested in various biological models from cells to animals. This led to both a better fundamental understanding of bio-orthogonal catalysis and to screen for the best performing material. The action is therefore successfully concluded and paved the way towards the development of novel catalytic materials with potential for cancer therapy, enhancing the career perspectives of the researchers recruited and providing 13 highly trained researchers prepared to tackle scientific relevant challenges in different sectors.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

THERACAT is an international and multidisciplinary consortium aiming at the training of 13 ESRs on the innovative topic of novel bio-orthogonal catalysis-based tools for cancer therapy. This ETN comprises 6 academic partners, 3 industrial partners active in the pharmaceutical market (1 large pharmaceutical company, Teva, and 2 SMEs, BiogelX and Tagworks) and 3 partners with focus on science communication (Cancer research UK), gender and minorities (UAB-Observatory for Equality) and management and entrepreneurship (ESADE business school). The combination of academic, private and society-involved organisations will provide a broad training for the 13 ESRs recruited, equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed as scientists, industrial researchers and entrepreneurs. The development of novel cancer therapies is a major challenge for academic research and pharmaceutical industries. THERACAT aims to establish a training programme focused on the development of THERApeutic CATalysts. In this strategy, materials bearing a catalytic unit are delivered to the tumour and subsequently non-active prodrugs are administered. The prodrugs are non-toxic and therefore generate limited side effects. Only at the tumour site the catalytic particles convert the prodrugs into active compounds that generate a therapeutic effect. This approach presents several advantages on the classical drug delivery paradigm including limited side effects and prolonged efficacy. This multidisciplinary research programme will be the setting for the training of 13 ESRs. The combination of the research expertise, the cutting-edge facilities and the complementary skills present in the consortium holds a great promise for the advancement of their careers, as well as of the knowledge of catalysis-based anticancer therapies and the development of marketable technologies and products.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE BIOENGINYERIA DE CATALUNYA · BarcelonaCoordinatorSpain
  • BIOGELX LIMITED · NEWHOUSECity levelUnited Kingdom
  • RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN · GroningenNetherlands
  • TAGWORKS PHARMACEUTICALS BV · NijmegenNetherlands
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN · EindhovenNetherlands
  • TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY · Tel AvivIsrael
  • TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED · Petach TivkaIsrael
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH · EdinburghUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITAT BASEL · BaselSwitzerland

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union