Doctoral network on discovering pathomechanisms and novel drug optimization for AMDcore
PANDORA · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-10-01–2030-09-30
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01 · scheme HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN · topic HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
PANDORA will create a multidisciplinary, intersectoral European Doctoral Network focusing on complement system-mediated pathomechanisms and therapy development for Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD, major cause of blindness in the elderly population, affects daily activities of ca. 200 million people worldwide, placing a major burden on national health systems and impairing patients’ quality of life. The complement system, known for its role in innate immune surveillance, is a major pathogenic driver in AMD, also involved in various other diseases, including sepsis, neurodegenerative, kidney, vascular diseases and cancer. We and others have recently demonstrated the importance of locally produced complement factors and non-canonical complement functions in the retina, affecting energy metabolism, protein degradation, mitochondrial stability, autophagy and lysophagy, which are found to be impaired in AMD. PANDORA will exploit state-of-the art model systems and techniques, including ex vivo multicellular, stem-cell derived and murine models, omics, imaging, biochemistry, histology, functional assays and computational modelling, to study in depth the different complement functions relevant to AMD and to find potential biomarkers for stratification and disease monitoring. PANDORA further aims to develop innovative therapeutic approaches, using gene therapy, compound screening, optimizing drug delivery to the retina, and a novel ultra-high resolution multimodality imaging system to monitor disease progression and treatment efficacy in vivo and in patients. PANDORA will train Doctoral Candidates as the next generation of European translational scientists in vision and medical research, and provides every student with the tools for a successful scientific career in academia or industry. Our multidisciplinary network offers a unique opportunity to expand the understanding and therapeutics for AMD in Europe, and to bring research findings to benefit for patients.
Beneficiaries (16)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN | DE | coordinator | €870,817 | |
| UNIVERSITE DE FRIBOURG | CH | participant | €380,642 | |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | UK | participant | €348,738 | |
| THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN | IE | participant | €341,087 | |
| MICROFLUIDICS INNOVATION CENTER | FR | participant | €314,669 | Yes |
| CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS | FR | participant | €314,669 | |
| SORBONNE UNIVERSITE | FR | participant | €314,669 | |
| ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO | FI | participant | €314,525 | |
| FUNDACION CENTRO DE EXCELENCIA EN INVESTIGACION DE MEDICAMENTOS INNOVADORES EN ANDALUCIA | ES | participant | €282,188 | |
| IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS | EL | participant | €269,484 | |
| KYMATONIKI IDIOTIKI KEFALAIOUCHIKI ETAIREIA | EL | participant | €269,484 | Yes |
| PANEPISTIMIO KRITIS | EL | associatedPartner | — | |
| UNIVERSITE DE TOULOUSE | FR | associatedPartner | — | |
| Retina International CLG | IE | associatedPartner | — | |
| UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA | ES | associatedPartner | — | |
| BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM PHARMA GMBH &CO KG | DE | associatedPartner | — |
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