Intelligent design of adenovirus vectors

iAds, a European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder project, aims to maximise the potential of adenovirus vector for vaccines and gene transfer.

After a co-injection of two adenovirus vectors in a mouse brain you can see the expression of a green (GFP) and red (mCherry) fluorescent protein in neurons.
Credit: EKL, IGMM

Project partners

iAds consortium gatheres 6 partners from 5 European countries and puts together experts in structural biology, receptor biology, clinical gene transfer, vaccines, immunology, and manufacturing.

CNRS – Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier

Eric J. Kremer’s lab

Gene transfer to the central nervous system, immune responses, receptors

Batavia Biosciences

Leader: Menzo Havenga

Bioproduct manufacturer

Janssen Vaccines & Prevention

Leader: Jerome Custers

Bioprocessing, immunology, vaccines, regulatory issues

CSIC

Carmen San Martín’s Group

Mark Van Raaij’s Group

Structural biology

Umeå University

The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden

Virus-receptor interactions and virology

University of Edinburgh

Andy Baker Research Group

Gene transfer for cardiovascular diseases, clinical application, vector tropism

Adenovirus vectors for clinical gene transfer

Gene therapy is a highly promising approach for treating certain diseases. Viral vectors have been developed stripped of their ability to cause disease and are instead used to deliver genetic material into cells for therapeutic purposes. Adenoviruses are particularly attractive because they can efficiently deliver DNA into both dividing and non-dividing cells. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the iAds project aims to overcome the limitations of adenoviral vectors, such as host immune responses and imperfect targeting. The consortium will create an in-silico platform for the design of intelligent adenovirus vectors with a focus on heart- and brain-specific targeting, addressing areas of unmet medical need.

Project objectives

Using our expertise in adenovirus receptors, our goals are to selectively target specific cell types in the heart and brain to improve gene therapy efficacy and safety.
Using our expertise in structural biology and immunology, we will intelligently design adenovirus vectors to avoid the immune response.

Images of human adenovirus taken with the electron microscope. Each particle is an icosahedron (20 triangular faces) and is approximately 90 nanometres in diameter.
*Credit: Gabriela N. Condezo (CNB CSIC)*

This is an injection of adenovirus vector in a mouse brain. We see the expression of a protein in neurons shown by the dark brown coloration. This allows us to see the structure of the infected neuron.
*Credit: EKL, IGMM*

Using our manufacturing expertise, we will incorporate key production criteria at the beginning of vector development.
Using our savoir faire in in vivo gene transfer, we will test the efficacy of our vectors to treat cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases that affect the aged principally, and neurodevelopment diseases that affect infants and children.

Check our FAQs to learn more about adenoviruses, gene therapy and other topics linked to the project.

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This project has received funding from the European Innovation Council under the grant agreement No 101098647.