Overview

Project Summary

The Gene Therapy CoE at the Center of Portugal

 

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Gene Therapy holds great promise for revolutionising modern medicine. It represents a paradigm shift in approaching disease treatment, as it address the root causes of diseases instead of focusing on treating their symptoms. With unparalleled potential for both cure and economic impact, this groundbreaking medical biotechnology demands cutting-edge research and innovation to address the thousands of severe human diseases.

With this in mind, the EU-funded GeneT project (DOI: 10.3030/101059981) will establish a unique gene therapy research and innovation hub in the Centro region of Portugal. Anchored at the University of Coimbra, GeneT unites scientific excellence with international cooperation to pioneer new gene therapy solutions capable of alleviating suffering and fostering economic growth.

Main Goals

The main goal of the present project is the creation of a Gene Therapy research & innovation hub rooted in a Center of Excellence (CoE) located in the CENTRO (center) region of Portugal – the GeneT. This CoE will capitalize on the already existing RD&I capacity in the field at the University of Coimbra (UC) – the regional (and national) pivot of the innovation potential and knowledge transfer in Red Biotechnology – and act as an (inter)national enabler of scientific and business excellence in Gene Therapy innovation and manufacturing.

Gene Therapy is the latest revolution in the treatment of severe human diseases with the highest curative and economic potential in the health sector. Extraordinary results have already been achieved in the treatment of a few neurological, ophthalmic, hepatic, oncological and hematological disorders with outstanding clinical and economic impacts. UC, notably its Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, has proven scientific excellence in specific areas of the field, and a matchless ecosystem to strive in this high added-value sector, which encompasses the Coimbra University Hospitals and the Biotechnology Park BIOCANT, recognized as the epicenter of the biotech industry in Portugal.

To achieve its goal, the project will team-up with the University of Sheffield, home of the Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC), a UK pioneer hub dedicated to advancing the clinical development of new genetic treatments, and the University of Eastern Finland, which hosts the Finish National Virus Vector Laboratory with viral vector GMP production capacity and scale-up (key to gene therapy development). These two top European institutions are international references in the field at fundamental, translational and innovation levels.

GeneT will thus become a beacon of excellent in Gene Therapy R&I, with enormous impact in the decrease of mortality and suffering, while contributing to the economic recovery and growth of Portugal and the EU.

Project coordinator:
University of Coimbra, Portugal

Partners:
- University of Eastern Finland, Finland
- The University of Sheffield, England
- Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra

Project Details