Launch of H2020 project- SCIDNET

SCIDNET is a European Commission Horizon 2020 -funded project which launched in January 2016. It aims to take gene therapy from current clinical trials to a medicinal product that can be delivered to any child in the EU. It follows on from previous EU collaborations that UCL have been involved in.

SCID refers to a group of rare disorders that cause severe abnormalities of the immune system, resulting in the inability to fight infections, and death in the first year of life if no effective treatment is given. The team at UCL ICH/GOSH have developed gene therapy for two specific forms of SCID, and BRC infrastructure has been essential to the implementation of these gene therapy clinical trials. Over the next 4 years, SCIDNET proposes to offer gene therapy as a curative option for over 80% of all forms of SCID in Europe.

SCIDNET is a collaboration between 12 different partners across Europe and is coordinated by BRC Deputy Director Professor Bobby Gaspar. In 2015 a total of 49 Health-related projects across Europe were awarded H2020 grants, 5 of which were given to UCL.