GENOSTEM: Adult mesenchymal stem cells engineering for connective tissue disorders from the bench to the bed side

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0584-3

Key words (English)

Mesenchymal stem cells; genomics; cartilage; tendon; bone muscle

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 503161

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.1b

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

The objective of this Integrated Project Genostem is to establish an European international scientific leadership for stem cell regenerative medicine in the field of connective tissue disorders. Genostem will compare different tissue sources of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and isolate MSC subsets in order to obtain undifferentiated MSCs, committed MSCs at early stage of differentiation, progeny blocked at specific differentiation stage and fully differentiated progeny. Genostem will study the complete MSC gene product repertoire using genomic and proteomic analysis that should provide with the molecules and pathways potentially operative for the maintenance and differentiation of stem cells. Genostem will develop innovative technologies to generate biodegradable matrices, scaffolds and microcarriers that bind pharmacologically active proteins and allow their delivery in a controlled way and will improve methods for gene transfer using original lentivirus or non viral delivery systems. Genostem will develop a number of transplantation models of MSCs mimicking human pathological processes operative in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bone congenital disease, extended bone fractures, osteoporosis, tendon injuries, limb and coronary ischemia, cardiopathy, pulmonary arterial hypertensive disease and cancer. The final goal is to develop clinical trials using MSCs, in particular in bone, cartilage, tendon, cardiomuscular and vascular disorders, in partnership with SMEs and regulatory bodies.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0584-3