- LifeArc and the Motor Neurone Disease Association sponsor a promising University of Sheffield gene therapy programme for motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
- The pioneering research could pave the way for future clinical trials for one of the most common forms of these incurable neurodegenerative diseases within the next few years
- MND causes progressive paralysis as the nerves supplying muscles degenerate. FTD involves the death of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain which leads to impaired cognitive function
- The research programme will be carried by the University of Sheffield in collaboration with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
An innovative gene therapy programme which could pave the way for novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, has been launched at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.
The pioneering research has been awarded £513,141 from LifeArc and the Motor Neurone Disease Association to test the feasibility and efficiency of an ambitious gene therapy programme to treat motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients with underlying mutations in a causative gene known as C9orf72.
If successful, this programme could lead ground breaking research into future clinical trials for one of the most common forms of these incurable neurodegenerative diseases within the next few years.
The research from the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) is led by Dr Guillaume Hautbergue, Head of the RNA Biology Laboratory, in collaboration with Prof Mimoun Azzouz and Prof Dame Pamela Shaw.
“This is a completely new approach to tackling the most common type of motor neurone disease. No one has yet attempted to prevent these repeated sequences of RNA from leaving the cell’s nucleus and it opens up new areas of investigation for gene therapy. It is an exciting time for biomedical research and the development of novel treatments for incurable diseases such as MND,” said Dr Guillaume Hautbergue.
In an early stage study, published in Nature Communications, Dr Hautbergue and his research team were able to pinpoint why the repeated RNA sequences are able to leave the cell’s nucleus to cause cell death.
The team identified a particular protein called SRSF1 which binds to the pathological repeated RNA molecules and transports them out of the cell centre, effectively overriding the gatekeeping machinery within the nucleus by opening a back door. The researchers have further shown that by reducing the SRSF1 protein or altering its makeup so that it is unable to interact with the cell’s export machinery, it is possible to reduce the amount of rogue RNA molecules escaping into the cell’s cytoplasm.
This new research, funded by LifeArc and the MND Association, will be conducted in collaboration with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, an independent centre of excellence to advance the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry. The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult will provide a detailed non-clinical safety strategy as well as regulatory advice to guide the team at the University of Sheffield through interactions with the Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency for the potential commercialisation of an advanced therapy medicinal product.
Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive Officer, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult commented:
The progress of this scientific breakthrough from the University of Sheffield and the support for this programme by leading investors and charities such as LifeArc and the MND Association, is testament to the UK research excellence and favourable ecosystem for cell and gene therapies. We welcome the opportunity to be part of this programme and look forward to working with the University of Sheffield to help advance their innovative gene therapy technology into the clinics.
Dr Brian Dickie, Director of Research Development, MND Association said:
We are delighted to be joining with LifeArc in supporting this innovative research programme at one of the world’s leading centres for MND research.
Gene therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, such as MND, has had its ups and downs over the past two decades, but the field is now enjoying a renaissance. There is a clear route to clinical trials if the outcomes of this new study are positive.
Dr Melanie Lee CBE, Chief Executive Officer of LifeArc, a self-funded medical research charity said:
Funding this innovative and promising research reflects LifeArc’s focus on working with partners to advance pioneering medical research into life-changing treatments and diagnostics for patients.
This gene therapy approach, focused on preventing motor neurone toxicity, is the latest in a series of initiatives we are proud to be part of to drive research into practical treatments for this fatal and brutal condition.
Earlier this year the University of Sheffield launched the Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC), which is one of three pioneering hubs in a new £18 million network funded by LifeArc and the Medical Research Council (MRC), with support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Through revolutionary research like this new programme the centre is set to advance scientific discoveries into promising treatment options for millions of patients with life-threatening diseases.
To visit the full Nature Communications paper please visit: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms16063
About the University of Sheffield
With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world’s leading universities.
A member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.
Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in.
Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018 and for the last eight years has been ranked in the top five UK universities for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education.
Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.
Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.
About LifeArc
LifeArc is a self-funded medical research charity. Our mission is to advance translation of early science into health care treatments or diagnostics that can be taken through to full development and made available to patients. We have been doing this for more than 25 years and our work has resulted in a diagnostic for antibiotic resistance and four licensed medicines.
Our success allows us to explore new approaches to stimulate and fund translation. We have our own drug discovery and diagnostics development facilities, supported by experts in technology transfer and intellectual property who also provide services to other organisations. Our model is built on collaboration, and we partner with a broad range of groups including medical research charities, research organisations, industry and academic scientists. We are motivated by patient need and scientific opportunity.
LifeArc has a number of different funding mechanisms to invest in promising innovation for the benefit of patients. Our Philanthropic Fund provides grants to support medical research projects focused on the translation of rare diseases research. Our Early Ventures investment strategy builds on our Seed Fund portfolio of start-up companies; investing in innovative new modalities, technologies and translational research that have the potential to generate impact for patients and income that will enable us to drive further innovation.
Find out more about our work on www.lifearc.org or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter (@lifearc1).
About the MND Association
The MND Association was founded in 1979 by a group of volunteers with experience of living with or caring for someone with MND. Since then, we have grown significantly, with an ever-increasing community of volunteers, supporters and staff, all sharing the same goal – to support people with MND and everyone who cares for them, both now and in the future.
The MND Association focuses on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For more information, visit https://www.mndassociation.org/