EKL coordinates project iAds – “Intelligent design of adenovirus vectors”.
iAds is a European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder project that aims to maximise the potential of adenovirus vector for vaccines and gene transfer.
The consortium of 6 partners from 5 European countries will dedicate 4 years to develop an intelligent design of adenovirus vectors (iAds). The project aims to maximise the potential of adenovirus vectors for vaccines and gene transfer. The objective is to revolutionise gene transfer and generate solutions in areas of unmet medical need via a platform that exploits the full potential of viral vectors. iAds aims to target specific cell types in the heart and brain to improve gene therapy efficacy and safety.
Gene therapy is a highly promising approach for treating certain diseases. Viral vectors have been developed stripped of their ability to cause disease and are instead used to deliver genetic material into cells for therapeutic purposes. Adenoviruses are particularly attractive because they can efficiently deliver DNA into both dividing and non-dividing cells. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the iAds project aims to overcome the limitations of adenoviral vectors, such as host immune responses and imperfect targeting. The consortium will create an in-silico platform for the design of intelligent adenovirus vectors with a focus on heart- and brain-specific targeting, addressing areas of unmet medical need.
For more information: www.intelligentadenoviruses.eu
