SciFiMed will help patients suffering from
impaired defence against infections,
incurable renal,
autoimmune or
eye diseases.
All these diseases share an association with dysregulation of the complement system, which is a major component of the immune system.
Complement factor H (FH) and FH-related (FHR) proteins are components of the complement system that are strongly associated with systemic and organ-specific complement-mediated pathologies. In contrast to FH, the function of the remaining six highly homologous FHR proteins is mostly unknown and, hence, their role in the different disease-specific pathogenic mechanisms remain elusive.
Our EU consortium successfully unraveled the mysteries of the FH-protein family's contributions to diseases.
Through an ambitious and transdisciplinary fundamental science-to-technology transfer, we developed specific antibodies and ELISA assays, which are now commercially available.
Additionally, we established a proof-of-principle for a novel multiplex detection assay and innovative functional analysis systems, both of which provide the basis for future developments.
This high-impact project advanced immunological research across Europe, promoted new product developments by bioanalytical companies, modernized the EU diagnostic market, and opened new perspectives for patient treatment, ultimately paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
"Everything is possible,
even the impossible"
Mary Poppins