Centre for the Technologies of Gene and Cell Therapy
The Centre for Gene and Cellular Therapy Technologies (CTGCT) project is launched. The project funds the establishment, setting up of premises and operation of the Centre for Gene and Cellular Therapy Technologies (CTGCT) during its start-up years. The mission of the Centre will be to develop new, personalized treatment methods in collaboration with doctors, which will enable patients with rare genetic diseases and cancer to have faster access to advanced forms of treatment.
The National Institute of Chemistry hosted a kick-off meeting of representatives of the prominent European medical research institutions that will participate in the project as development and innovation partners. The event was also attended by representatives from the European Commission, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
What is the purpose of establishing the CTGCT
For many cancers and rare genetic diseases, we still do not have effective drugs and treatment methods. New, advanced treatment technologies, such as gene and cell therapies, could in the future cure many diseases that have their cause in the genetic code of patients. These new methods of treatment are extremely effective, as they are targeted and adapted to individual patients or groups of patients and act on the direct cause of the disease, or even enable a permanent cure. In the Centre for the Technologies of Gene and Cell Therapy, which is being established by the National Institute of Chemistry, we will develop technologies for the preparation of advanced drugs until the start of clinical research for the treatment of diseases for which we do not yet have effective drugs.
How the CTGCT will work
The excellence of research in the fields of synthetic biology, neurobiology, genetics and immunology at the National Institute of Chemistry is of key importance in the development of new, personalized treatment methods. This development will be supported by the cooperation of scientists and doctors of the University Hospital Ljubljana, and patients and their advocates will also play an important connecting role. The centre will thus represent an important bridge between biomedical research for advanced treatment and its transfer to patients.
Start-up financing
The CTGCT project is financed on the basis of the European call Widening - Teaming for Excellence. It is an important scheme of the European Commission within the Horizon Europe program, dedicated to research and innovation. The strategic goal of the mentioned call is to strengthen research and innovation capacities in member states, associated countries and remote regions that would benefit in the field of research and innovation by cooperation with successful research organizations. In the CTGCT project, the following partner institutions cooperate: University College of London (UCL), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Charité University Hospital Berlin and Technical University Dresden. The European Commission, which recognized the development potential of the applicant, awarded the CTGCT project a grant of 15 million Euros, of which 12 million to the National Institute of Chemistry. The Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sports will allocate additional funds of 15 million Euros to the project. With the funding, the project will ensure the conditions for the establishment and long-term operation of the centre.
Location of the new CTGCT
The CTGCT project starts on September 1, 2023 and will last for six years. The Centre will operate in a newly constructed purpose-built building equipped with the necessary research equipment, which will be located on the grounds of the Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana.
More information about Centre for the Technologies of Gene and Cell Therapy (CTGCT): https://ctgct.si/en/centre/