Jose Escandell Awarded CaixaImpulse Innovation Grant

iBET Principal Scientist Jose Escandell has been awarded a CaixaImpulse Innovation grant from the la Caixa Foundation, with the support of FCT, to develop HERO (Host with Enhanced rAAV prOduction), a platform to make the production of gene therapy vectors faster and more affordable.

Gene therapies use recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) to carry therapeutic genes into the body. However, these vectors remain expensive, slow and difficult to manufacture at scale, which limits patient access.

HERO combines advances in cell engineering with bioprocess development to increase rAAV yields (up to tenfold) while maintaining quality. The platform aims to reduce manufacturing costs by up to 80% and shorten development timelines from several months to a few weeks, making large-scale production more feasible.

Faster, more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing could expand access to advanced gene therapies, particularly for people with rare diseases for whom high production costs often limit treatment options. It could also accelerate the translation of new therapies from the laboratory to the clinic and into patient care.

Learn more on the HERO project page.