EU project aims to revolutionise biomedical research with extracelluar vesicles

A major EU project coordinated from UCD Conway Institute is set to push the frontiers of biomedical research by exploring the transformative potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are small particles that act as messengers between cells which could transform early diagnosis and targeted treatments for diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions.

EVEREST will bring together 21 institutions from 11 countries to advance the study of 'messengers' between cells which could transform early diagnosis and targeted treatments.

The project, led by (opens in a new window)Prof Breandán Kennedy from UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science and UCD Conway Institute, is funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme under Horizon Europe with a budget of €1,311,000 and will run for 48 months, starting in January 2025.

EVs are released by cells and carry proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, making them key vehicles for cell-to-cell communication. EVEREST will focus on standardising methods for isolating and characterising these vesicles, facilitating their use in non-invasive diagnostics and personalised therapies to improve the precision and effectiveness of treatments for complex diseases.

Professor Breandán Kennedy said: “EVEREST represents a bold step forward in the quest for innovative medical solutions. By harnessing the power of extracellular vesicles, we hope to pioneer new diagnostics and treatments that can transform lives. I am thrilled to lead this world-class consortium and look forward to the groundbreaking discoveries we will achieve together.”

UCD Conway Institute will provide state-of-the-art research facilities and expert guidance in the field of biomedical innovation from (opens in a new window)Associate Professor Alfonso Blanco, Director of the Flow Cytometry Core Facility; (opens in a new window)Dr Dimitri Scholz, Director of the Imaging Core and Prof. Matthias Wilm, Director of the Proteomics Core Facility. In addition to Prof. Kennedy, other Conway Fellows in the consortium are (opens in a new window)Associate Professor Gerard Cagney and (opens in a new window)Associate Professor Margaret McGee from the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, and (opens in a new window)Dr Jessica Whelan, Assistant Professor and Head of School, UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. 

Commenting on the project launch, Director of the UCD Conway Institute (opens in a new window)Professor Helen Roche said: “The UCD Conway Institute is delighted to host EVEREST, Professor Breandán Kennedy’s programme focused on EV biology — an exciting initiative, given the key role EVs play in cell-to-cell and inter-organ communication. No doubt, multiple research and innovation staff from diverse backgrounds will gain invaluable experience and training as part of the EVEREST initiative.”

Principal of UCD College of Science, (opens in a new window)Professor Jeremy Simpson commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to see the funding of this exciting consortium project led by Professor Kennedy. Extracellular vesicles hold immense promise for a variety of biomedical applications, and the interdisciplinary and international nature of the consortium that he has brought together embodies everything that we continually strive for in the UCD College of Science.”

The EVEREST consortium unites top academic and non-academic partners across Europe. Academic members include UCD (Ireland), (opens in a new window)Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), (opens in a new window)University of Vigo (Spain), (opens in a new window)Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal), (opens in a new window)Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (Luxembourg), (opens in a new window)Justus-Liebig University Giessen (Germany), (opens in a new window)South East Technological University (Ireland), (opens in a new window)Linköping University (Sweden), (opens in a new window)Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia), (opens in a new window)Queen’s University Belfast (UK), (opens in a new window)State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine (Lithuania), and (opens in a new window)Fundación Progreso y Salud GENYO (Spain).

Non-academic partners include (opens in a new window)SiriusXT (Ireland), (opens in a new window)Bioreperia (Sweden), (opens in a new window)Fox Biosystems (Belgium), (opens in a new window)Pharmahungary (Hungary), (opens in a new window)Acousort AB (Sweden), (opens in a new window)Mursla (UK), (opens in a new window)Xenopat (Spain), (opens in a new window)De Rotos y Descosidos (Spain), and (opens in a new window)Vesiculab Ltd (UK). This multidisciplinary and cross-sector approach enables the project to cover everything from basic research to commercial application, maximising the impact of scientific advances on clinical and societal outcomes.

Professor Breandan Kennedy and project manager Dr Yolanda Alvarez, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, have extensive experience managing European projects, such as CRYSTAL3 and 3D-NEO-NET.

EVEREST is funded under MSCA-Horizon Europe GA101183034.