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| CODE |
HEALTH-IT-LCP-8 |
| TITLE |
Stem cell based functional/differentiation assay for industrial applications in the field of regenerative medicine |
| PROGRAMME / THEME |
Health |
| FUNDING SCHEME |
CP-IP Collaborative project (large scale integrating) |
| DEADLINE |
14/11/2008 |
| ORGANISATION TYPE |
SME |
| PROJECT DESCRIPTION |
SUMMARY:
we will develop in the project a functional assay for the identification of bioactive compounds promoting human mesenchymal stem cells differentiation toward osteoblasts and/or condrocytes as they are endogenous precursors of bone forming cells and of cartilage forming cells respectively. This assay will be compliant with industrial processes for active compound identification, High throughput compound screening. Therefore the project aim will be development of molecules useful in regenerative medicine approach based on the activation of endogenous cells. Screening will be performed on a natural compound library and as well as on synthetic compounds. Natural compounds library will be derived from edible sources, and annotated with analytical chemistry and functional data. Identified compounds will be tested for functional validation in in vitro systems (human mesenchymal stem cells derived from different donors) and in vivo in animal models. The system will be dissected in order to identify the molecular targets of active compounds identified in a chemical genetic approach. Compounds will proceed through preclinical development.
MAIN PROJECT ITEMS:
Primary cell systems subject of the project would be preferably human cells, including: primary cells isolated from human tissues preferably modified to be immortalized, human adult stem cells and/or mesenchymal stem cells and their differentiate progeny (i.e. adipocytes and osteoblasts). Recombinant cell systems are mammalian cell lines stably expressing a reporter gene and the specific human target(s) of interest.
These cells systems are relevant as far as they 1) represents aspects of human physiologic or pathological processes or are related to human health; 2) express pathway involved in cell differentiation or affected in pathological states and that can be addressed by pharmaceuticals; 3) express molecular targets of human pathologies.
The cell systems will be developed based on functional readouts, like luminescent proteins, that are HTS compliant, and allow monitoring of: 1) differentiation to specific lineage 2) relevant signaling or metabolic pathways 3) specific activities of the primary cell types under study or their differentiated progeny (ie.: enzymatic activities, receptor transduction signals, electric activities, etc..)
This project will lead to set up systems enabling, in a high throughput way, the identification of compounds (perspective pharmaceuticals and research tools) that interfere with cell differentiation, cellular phenotype and specific molecular activities.
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| PARTNER SOUGHT |
Expertise required:
1) academic groups with records in regenerative medicine
2) expertiese in target identification
3) clinical groups with records in regenerative medicine
4) in vivo animal models
5) CRO for compounds development
6) industrial partner interested in clinical development |
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