AlloStem: An unprecedented immunology programme
AlloStem is
a cutting-edge
blood and marrow transplantation research
programme funded by the European Commission that will run for 42 months
with the participation of leading immunologists and clinical scientists
forming a consortium of 29-strong partners. AlloStem is an ambitious
programme dedicated to improving cancer and leukaemia therapies and is
being spearheaded by Professor Alejandro Madrigal, Scientific Director
of The Anthony Nolan Trust in London, UK.
AlloStem secured the €8 million euro grant awarded by the European Commission, overcoming stark competition from Europe's most eminent research groups. This grant represents a watershed in European Union medical research funding and is so far the largest grant ever awarded to an immunotherapy programme in the region.
An ambitious project
As a joint research venture, AlloStem focuses on the development of new technologies in the field of stem cell transplantation and the transformation of these technologies into clinical applications for the treatment of leukaemia and other haematological malignancies to increase the chance of patient survival.
Over the last 30 years, improvements in chemotherapy and the use of external agents have been progressing steadily. Despite these advances, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only therapy that can result in long-term, disease-free survival for many patients, especially those suffering relapses following initial chemotherapy.
At present, allogeneic HSCT can carry some post-transplant complications, mainly due to recurrence or progression of the disease and infections due to immuno-protection deficiency. The AlloStem project aims to increase the number of patients that could benefit from HSCT with the use of immunotherapy. Hence, the scientific and technological objectives of this project are to develop new immunotherapy strategies based on the analysis of the patient's immune responses.
An unparalleled international network
The teams participating in this project include 29 centres-of-excellence from 13 different countries across the world. With the addition of a group of associate partners, AlloStem represents over 50 scientific and clinical research groups from 19 different countries. These groups comprise of leading clinicians and scientists in the fields of stem cell biology, immunogenetics, transplantation, cell processing and immunotherapy. With the wider implications of the new therapies in mind, AlloStem has incorporated advisory committees of experts in law, ethics, social science and policy regulations, together with representatives of patients and donor organisations. This represents an interactive and complementary network that, unique to this field, combines the competence and the technical skills to achieve its ambitious goals.
AlloStem Kick-Off Meeting 2004, London
A robust scientific leadership
The groups involved have excellent performance-related backgrounds in trans-European collaborative studies and have delivered significant clinical and scientific advances over a period of more than 20 years. For example, Professors Fred Falkenburg and Els Goulmy of the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands have made important contributions in demonstrating how donor cells, specific for genetic differences between donor and recipient, can be effective in eliminating leukaemia. Prof. Manuel Fernandez of the Hospital Puerta de Hierro in Spain is a leading expert in the use of different sources of stem cells for out-bone-marrow transplants. Professor Hermann Einsele from Wuerzburg University in Germany is, likewise, a leading expert in applying the techniques of immunotherapy to common viral diseases who, together with his Italian counterpart Professor Franco Locatelli at IRCCS San Matteo is developing therapies for the treatment of fungal diseases.