Project SECRET Receives EU Funding to Launch a Doctoral Network Focused on Regenerative Medicine
We are thrilled to announce that Project SECRET - Exploring the therapeutic potential of perinatal cell SECRETomes - an innovative doctoral network under the Horizon Europe programme - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action, has been awarded significant EC funding (2.5M Eur) to propel its groundbreaking research and will be entirely dedicated to the characterization of perinatal secretomes with regenerative potential for neurological and cardiovascular disorders.
This funding will enable the recruitment of 10 talented doctoral candidates in the next months, who will become the driving force behind this pioneering project. The selected candidates will benefit from a collaborative, stimulating research environment, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and mentorship from leading experts in the field.
About SECRET
SECRET focuses on characterizing the therapeutic potential of total secretomes obtained from human stem cells from amniotic membrane and amniotic fluid, sourced from clinical waste samples with the informed consent of the donors. This interdisciplinary project, which sees the synergistic convergence of various disciplines in the field of life sciences - cellular and molecular biology, tissue engineering, biocompatible materials science, and the development of advanced experimental preclinical models - aims to characterize and define innovative cell-derived formulations that have a high therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory onset diseases in the cardiac and neurological fields.
By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary approaches, SECRET seeks to unveil novel insights into the mechanisms underlying tissue regeneration and repair, offering hope for millions affected worldwide.
Start date of the project will be 1st September so stay tuned for more updates and insights on this exciting journey towards medical innovation!
Key Objectives
- Characterization of Perinatal Secretomes: In-depth analysis of the composition and properties of perinatal secretomes to identify key regenerative factors.
- Neurological Disorders: Exploration of how perinatal secretomes can aid in the repair and regeneration of neural tissues, with a focus on diseases such as ischemic stroke and multiple sclerosis
- Cardiovascular Disease: Investigation of the potential of perinatal secretomes to promote cardiac tissue repair and regeneration, aiming to develop new treatments for heart disease and myocardial dysfunction.
Consortium Information
Under the guidance of the Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore (UCSC) of Rome, and Professor Ornella Parolini as Project Coordinator, SECRET key national and international contributors to the Doctoral Candidates training programme are academic excellences such as Università di Genova, Universitaetsklinikum Essen, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universidade do Minho, Academisch Medisch Centrum Bij De Universiteit Van Amsterdam, Università degli Studi “Gabriele D’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara, research institutes such as Centro di Ricerca E. Menni at Fondazione Poliambulanza, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino-Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, and Small-medium enterprises like Mimetas BV and Innovation Acta S.r.l.
At the University of Antwerp, two Doctoral Candidates will be hosted in the Laboratory of Experimental Hematology of Prof. Peter Ponsaerts, in close collaboration with two µNEURO groups: the Bio-Imaging Lab (Prof. Verhoye) and the Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology (Prof. De Vos).