Grants and Contributions:

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Title:

Novel approach for T-cell genetic editing

Agreement Number:

EGP

Agreement Value:

$25,000.00

Agreement Date:

Nov 8, 2017 -

Organization:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Location:

Quebec, CA

Reference Number:

GC-2017-Q3-00560

Agreement Type:

Grant

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Additional Information:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Recipient's Legal Name:

Delisle, Jean-Sébastien (Université de Montréal)

Program:

Engage Grants for universities

Program Purpose:

Recent advances in biotechnology allow for the genetic modification of animal and human cells forx000D
applications in research and medicine. This field is extremely promising and is likely to change how research isx000D
performed and how therapies are designed in the future, notably by using cells as medicines. This might bex000D
especially true for T cells, a subset of immune cells capable to fight refractory infections and certain cancers.x000D
This project matches a novel approach to genetically engineer cells (developed by Feldan, a biotechnologyx000D
company) with the T-cell handling expertise developed at the University of Montréal. Specifically, thex000D
principal objective of this application is to develop and validate the best method to genetically engineer T cellsx000D
using a Feldan product; the Shuttle. The Shuttle allows for the delivery of a cargo within the nucleus of the cell,x000D
where the genetic material is located. This transport is non-traumatic to the cell and as such may represent ax000D
marked advantage compared to competing approaches in the field. We will thus use the Shuttle to carryx000D
proteins capable to precisely modify the genetic code of cells (commonly referred as the CRISPR/Cas9x000D
system). Although the Shuttle can be used to genetically engineer several cell types, Feldan has no experiencex000D
using it in T cells. The Delisle laboratory at the University of Montréal will provide this expertise and benefitx000D
from the Shuttle technology to advance the development of T-cell research. The project has two main aims;x000D
1-to optimize Shuttle-based cargo transfer methods to the nucleus of T cells in culture and 2- to provide ax000D
proof-of-principle of genetic editing in T cells. This work will enable Feldan and the Delisle laboratory tox000D
obtain key data to leverage additional funding towards the goal of positioning the Shuttle technology in thex000D
expanding field of T-cell editing.