Extracellular Vesicle Therapeutics for Regenerative Medicine (ExTReMe)

<p>The&nbsp;National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) seeks to advance its mission by&nbsp;advancing research on extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their use as therapeutics in the field of regenerative medicine.</p><p><br></p><p>The main objective of this program,&nbsp;<strong>Extracellular Vesicle Therapeutics for Regenerative Medicine (ExTReMe)</strong>, is to support&nbsp;the translation of EV-based therapeutics in regenerative medicine. EVs, like exosomes and microvesicles, are crucial mediators of intercellular communication, carrying diverse cargo like proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. In regenerative medicine, EVs play a significant role by influencing cellular behaviors during tissue repair and regeneration. Due to their natural function in intercellular communication, EVs represent a novel, cell-free, therapeutic tool. EVs can be further engineered to deliver therapeutic agents or modulate signaling pathways involved in repair/regeneration.</p><p><br></p><p>Areas of interest for ExTReMe could include, but are not limited to:</p><ol><li>direct EV therapy (stem cell-isolated EVs produced under GLP conditions, and stored as off-the-shelf therapies);</li><li>designer EVs (personalized to the individual patient’s needs).</li></ol><p><br></p><p>Grant authorities that allow the&nbsp;National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) to forecast this opportunity are as follows: 42 U.S. Code § 287a - Cures Acceleration Network</p>