Whether a promising therapy actually makes it onto the market and into clinical application depends not only on its feasibility, but also on how practical and economical it is. In the case of regulatory T cells (Treg), which could be used against inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases or in organ transplants, an individually customized cell drug would first have to be produced for each patient. This prevents their widespread use in the clinic. Prof. Julia Polánsky-Biskup, head of the Immuno-Epigenetics research group at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH), is researching a way to produce effective Treg products independently of patients. To this end, the researchers want to use human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and test them clinically for the first time. Polánsky-Biskup and her team recently received a 150,000 euro Proof of Concept Grant (ERC PoC) from the European Research Council (ERC) for this project.
In the proof-of-concept study, the researchers will test their novel method of epigenetic editing on hiPSCs. Using this method, they can change the DNA structure and gene expression of the cells and thus differentiate them into functional Tregs for use in therapy. This method is based on the research group's earlier work as part of the ERC Starting Grant project EpiTune.
“We are delighted that the European Research Council has placed its trust in us. ERC grants are evaluated very comprehensively and critically. The funding clearly shows that we have good ideas and concepts for translation in biomedical research,” says Julia Polánsky-Biskup. “If our method is successful, we will continue to optimize it and prepare it for market readiness with the help of the BIH and Charité translation support programs.”
Projects already funded by the ERC are selected for ERC PoC in a highly competitive process. Julia Polánsky-Biskup and her team were awarded an ERC Starting Grant for their research on epigenetic editing in January 2019.