The UPGRADE (Unlocking Precision Gene Therapy) kick-off meeting (KOM) was held on 1 March, 2019 at the SR-TIGET facilities in Milan. Around 35 participants representing 6 European Countries attended the meeting.
During the meeting all issues related to the implementation, management, dissemination, finance and technicalities of the UPGRADE project were presented and discussed. The participants mostly focused on the research approaches to be used, specifications of materials and methods, requirements of end users and industrial scenarios for the implementation of the project results.
During this two-days event, a series of presentations and open discussions were performed involving all partners present. All partners introduced themselves and their rule within UPGRADE, and the Project Management Team had the opportunity to present the project management procedures and the dissemination tools. Beyond groups meetings and focussed discussions, during the KoM there were also occasions for networking, which contributed to a good interaction and exchange of opinions among partners for the next steps to take in support of UPGRADE actions implementation and success.
Agenda
28th February, 2019
| 15.00 – 15.30 | Welcome and Introduction – Luigi Naldini |
| 15.30 – 16.20 | WP1. Novel strategies to increase precision and efficacy of gene and epigenetic editing Work package 1 introduction – Anna Cereseto UNITN presentation – Anna Cereseto TUD presentation – Frank Buchholz Discussion |
| 16.20 – 16.55 | WP2. Retargeting gene/vector integration Work package 2 introduction – Marc Guell UPFa presentation – Marc Guell Discussion |
| 16.55 – 17.35 | Coffee break |
| 17.35 – 18.10 | WP3. Genome-wide off-target profiling of gene-editing reagents Work package 3 introduction – Keith Joung MGH presentation – Keith Joung Discussion |
| 18.10 – 18.45 | WP4. Viral and non-viral mediated delivery of genes and genome engineering components Work package 4 introduction – Ernst Wagner LMU presentation – Ernst Wagner Discussion |
| 19.00 | Dinner |
1st March, 2019
| 9.00 – 9.35 | WP5. Increase immune evasion of genome engineering components Work package 5 introduction – Oumeya Adjali UN Nantes presentation – Oumeya Adjali and Ignacio Anegon Discussion |
| 9.35 – 10.10 | WP6. Advanced Genetic Engineering of Hematopoiesis Work package 6 introduction – Luigi Naldini FTELEa presentation – Luigi Naldini Discussion |
| 10.10 – 11.10 | WP9. Expanding the breadth of liver-directed gene therapy to include larger patient populations Work package 9 introduction – Angelo Lombardo FTELEb presentation – Angelo Lombardo, Alessio Cantore, Alberto Auricchio and Manel LLado Discussion |
| 11.10 – 11.30 | Coffee break |
| 11.30 – 12.20 | WP7. Novel strategies to target skeletal and cardiac muscle wasting in aging and disease conditions Work package 7 introduction – Pura Muñoz UPFb presentation – Pura Muñoz VUB presentation – Thierry VandenDriessche Discussion |
| 12.20 – 12.55 | WP8. Retinal degenerations Work package 8 introduction – Alberto Auricchio FTELEc presentation – Alberto Auricchio and Manel LLado Discussion |
| 12.55 – 14.00 | Light lunch |
| 14.00 – 14.30 | WP10 & WP11. Management and Scientific coordination & Communication, stakeholders engagement, dissemination and exploitation Graciana Diez-Roux and Marianna Mea |
| 14.30 – 15.00 | Closing remarks – Luigi Naldini |
| 15.30 | Plenary Lecture: Professor Keith Joung Defining and Minimizing the Off-Target Effects of CRISPR Nucleases and Base Editors |
All the presentations will be soon available in the Partners’Area.