Project R-16844

Increasing the impact of exosomes towards brain diseases. (Research)

Brain diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease are highly devastating and notoriously difficult to treat because most pharmaceutical compounds fail to cross the protective blood-brain barrier. The ShuttleToBrain project addresses this critical challenge by advancing an exosome-based drug delivery platform to enhance medication transport to the brain, aiming to progress the technology from TRL 4 to TRL 6. Led by Maastricht University, this cross-border consortium leverages complementary regional expertise to modify exosomes chemically (UHasselt) guided by computational modelling (Hillmark Biopharma) to significantly improve brain penetration. These modified exosomes will be loaded with potent anti-seizure drug molecules provided by BeneluxBio. To validate the platform's safety and efficacy, the project combines structural precursor preparation (Maastricht University) with radiolabeling and PET imaging technologies (University Hospital RWTH Aachen). Furthermore, the technology will undergo extensive validation via activity testing in brain slices (University of Liège), neurotoxicity cell assays (DNTOX), and evaluation within dedicated animal models (MUMC+). The ultimate objective of ShuttleToBrain is to compile the necessary pre-clinical safety and efficacy data to file a clinical trial request by the project's conclusion. This collaboration will strengthen the Meuse-Rhine area as a premier innovation hub for brain health, elevate scientific and industrial visibility, and improve health outcomes for citizens suffering from neurological disorders.

01 September 2026 - 31 August 2029