News

The National Institute of Chemistry, boasting over 75 years of tradition and scientific excellence, is setting a new milestone in the Slovenian research environment with the Center for Gene and Cell Therapy Technologies (CTGCT). This center of excellence will significantly contribute to the Slovenian healthcare ecosystem by connecting Slovenian experts with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany.

In research-intensive countries, the development and production of advanced therapies are already effectively strengthening their national healthcare systems. Slovenia, as an EU13 member state, still faces underdeveloped research infrastructure. By establishing CTGCT, we aim to approach the European average and increase the number of Slovenian high-value-added products and services.

Main Purpose of CTGCT
The main goal of CTGCT is to develop new, personalized treatments. Statistics show that one in three people will face cancer in their lifetime, and five percent of the world’s population suffers from a rare genetic disease. Advanced technologies such as gene and cell therapies offer potential effective treatments for these conditions.

The Importance of Collaboration
CTGCT will collaborate with prestigious European research institutions such as University College London (UCL), University Medical Center Utrecht, Charité – University Hospital Berlin, and the Technical University of Dresden. The National Institute of Chemistry will contribute top-notch expertise in cancer and genetic disease therapies, while the partner institutions will advise on the organization of the center, provide necessary expertise and technology, and support the transfer of therapies from laboratories to patients.

The operation of CTGCT relies heavily on collaboration between scientists, doctors, and patients. The excellence in research in synthetic biology, neurobiology, genetics, and immunology at the National Institute of Chemistry will be supported by cooperation with the University Medical Centre Ljubljana and the important role of patients and their advocates. The center will thus represent a crucial bridge between biomedical research and its application to patients.

Organization of CTGCT
CTGCT will be an independent infrastructural and research center, located within the premises of the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana. The project includes the construction of a new building and the provision of equipment for preclinical research and clinical testing. Over the first six years, we plan to employ more than 20 experts from various scientific fields. The center will connect researchers, clinics, and patients, facilitating the transfer of knowledge to clinical practice.

Funding and Project Value
The CTGCT project is funded under the European Widening – Teaming for Excellence program within Horizon Europe. The European Commission has allocated €15 million in grants to the project, of which €12 million will go to the National Institute of Chemistry. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia will contribute an additional €15 million, and the UK Research and Innovation agency will co-finance the involvement of British experts from University College London with €1 million. The total value of the project is €30 million.
For more information, visit the project website: https://ctgct.si/en/

Partners and Funders

Partners:

• University College London (UCL), United Kingdom 
• University medical center Utrecht, Netherlands
• University hospital Charité Berlin, Germany
• Technical university Dresden, Germany

Funders

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 101059842).

This project has received funding from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee (grant agreement No 10069462).

Spatial display: CTGCT premises

Spatial display: view from the common area towards the green atrium