Home / Transcriptional and epigenetic events underpinning Navacim-Induced TR1 cell formation and expansion
Transcriptional and epigenetic events underpinning Navacim-Induced TR1 cell formation and expansion
Generating solutions
Status
Competition
Genome Centre(s)
GE3LS
Project Leader(s)
- Pere Santamaria (University of Calgary), Jord Cowan (Parvus Therapeutics),
Fiscal Year Project Launched
Project Description
More than 100 autoimmune diseases have complex immune responses to autoantigens. Nanoparticles coated with autoimmune-disease-relevant peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (Navacims) have the potential to halt and cure autoimmune disease by restoring immune tolerance without compromising normal immunity to infections and cancer. They are currently the only technology that can activate internal generation of disease-specific regulatory T cells within the host. This project aims to understand the types of changes in the structure of the nuclear DNA of the cells that are re-programmed by Navacims, to expand the commercial and clinical potential of Parvus Therapeutics’ proprietary platform. It seeks to precisely define the cellular identity of the initial, transitional and final T cell types of this cellular re-programming process, and to identify biomarkers to monitor effectiveness and efficacy of treatment. This information will then be used to define, validate and develop a clinical/biomarker strategy for Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, potentially revolutionizing the treatment of autoimmune diseases, many of which are multi-billion dollar per year markets.