The Science Museum of the University of Coimbra recently hosted the official launch of GENEH – The Excellence Hub for Advancing Innovation in Gene Therapy, a groundbreaking European consortium set to transform the future of gene therapy. Led by the University of Coimbra, the project unites leading institutions from EATRIS nodes, Portugal and Slovenia under the Horizon Europe programme, with nearly €5 million in funding. The consortium aims to accelerate the development, accessibility, and clinical application of gene therapies, particularly for rare and currently untreatable genetic diseases.
Gene therapy, a revolutionary approach that can offer curative treatments through a single administration, has already shown promising results in conditions such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis. However, with over 7,000 rare diseases identified globally and 95% lacking effective treatments, there remains a pressing need for innovation and collaboration.
The GeneH project addresses this challenge with a “quadruple-helix” model, fostering close partnerships between academia, industry, government bodies, and civil society. By 2028, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, overcome regulatory and funding barriers, and promote education and societal engagement in gene therapy.
The launch event featured prominent speakers, including GeneH coordinator professor Luís Pereira de Almeida, Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza, program director, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Mojca Bencina, senior researcher at National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenian ambassador to Portugal Mojca Nemec van Gorp, and Portugal’s Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, who delivered the closing remarks.
David Morrow, EATRIS Senior Scientific Programme Manager and Platform Manager for the ATMPs Platform, presented EATRIS’ current ATMP initiatives to the GeneH community, particularly those that dovetail with the project’s goals, such as PRECISEU and ERDERA. GeneH aligns strongly with the EATRIS ATMP strategy to build a connected European ecosystem for advanced therapies, supporting regional hubs to tackle shared challenges and ensure life-saving treatments reach the patients who need them most.
Congratulations to all partners involved in this milestone moment for European healthcare innovation.
