The European Commission (EC) has adopted the 2022 work programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC), opening funding opportunities worth over €1.7 billion in 2022 for breakthrough innovators to scale up and create new markets. This includes €60.5 million to tackle three Transition Challenges, notably one on the development of RNA-based therapies and diagnostics for complex or rare genetic diseases.
The EIC Transition 2022 (HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITION-01) call, which has a planned opening date of March 1st, is intended to meet the following specific objectives:
- Advance, beyond the state-of-the-art, RNA delivery methods, including robust mRNA formulations, that would enable effective and safe delivery of mRNA into the cells;
- Design, develop and preclinical validate of novel miRNAs (miRNA lncRNA, tRNA or siRNA-based) therapies for complex or rare genetic diseases;
- Develop and validate novel RNA-based diagnostics and RNA-based predictive biomarkers that would allow for early and more accurate diagnosis and for favourable or non- post-treatment prognosis, respectively.
The starting point in the project should be a preliminary technology or protocol of an RNA-based therapy for complex or rare genetic diseases with unmet medical needs that demonstrates, in a lab or preclinical context, the essential features that underpin the disruptive nature of the innovation. The endpoint in the project should be a completely functional version of the technology suitable for clinical validation, supported by a sound and implementable commercialisation/exploitation strategy.
The funding call has the following deadlines: May 4th and September 28th.
For more information: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-eic-2022-transitionchallenges-03