Scientific projects
AAVEYE: an international project with contributions from 4 partners from the UK, Switzerland, Italy and Estonia. AAVEYE is coordinated by Fondazione Telethon TIGEM (Italy). The objective of the AAVEYE consortium is to develop state-of-the-art gene transfer to photoreceptors in the retina, and to provide pre-clinical proof-of-concept of gene therapy for severe blinding retinal photoreceptor diseases. The project combines leading European scientists in the fields of AAV-mediated gene transfer to the retina, elucidation of the pathogenesis of photoreceptor degeneration, and design of molecular diagnostics for inherited retinal diseases. Asper Biotech is involved with testing the patient samples of LCA and ar-RP diseases.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (GP-TCM): The project brings together a consortium of 29 beneficiary partner institutions as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises from the EU and China. The consortium is further strengthened by collaboration with more than 20 additional non-beneficiary institutions, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and independent experts, and is coordinated by the University of Wolverhampton and King´s College London. The project will review the current status of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) research, identify problems, and propose possible solutions by applying functional genomics approaches. Guidelines and priority areas for future research will be proposed through 3 years of networking and discussions leading to the formation of a new academic society, the European Society of TCM Research, to facilitate and foster sustainable EU-China collaboration in this area.
Colorectal cancer testing portfolio: This project encompasses a consortium of Asper Biotech and Pomeranian Medical University (Jan Lubinski). The aim of the current project is to summarize current knowledge concerning colorectal cancer and develop a full portfolio of genetic tests for the majority of hereditary and sporadic colorectal cancers. We aim to redefine the diagnosis of this cancer, allowing for earlier and more precise diagnoses that could lead to a better prognosis for treatment. Moreover, the tests could be applied as prognostic tools for high-risk groups of people with a family history of disease. As a result, a number of tests are being provided.
CTCTrap (Circulating Tumor Cells): In the CTCtrap consortium universities, research institutions and SMEs are linked in a common effort, starting from the simple, but innovative view of using Therapeutic Apheresis (TA), as a way to collect CTC from peripheral blood in cancer patients. A new TA column will be developed to capture CTC and then reintroduce the blood devoid of tumor cells back into the body with the promise to obtain CTC in all patients at risk for recurrence or diagnosed with metastatic disease. The molecular characterization of these CTC is expected to gather new knowledge on metastasis’ mechanism, provide a risk assessment and the optimal therapy choice during the course of the disease of cancer patients. The new knowledge on CTC heterogeneity within cancer type and within individuals will allow for the tuning of CTCapheresis to specific cancer types. Prospective pilot studies will be setup to investigate the feasibility of the CTCapheresis in the clinic and their potential therapeutic benefit. Success of CTCapheresis will lead to a radical change in the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors.
CTCTrap consortium of eleven partners from seven countries is led by Leon Terstappen a professor of Medical Cell Biophysics of the University of Twente, The Netherlands. Asper Biotech, the Estonian partner in the project, will be involved in molecular profiling of CTCells.
Scientific projects
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