As part of our project, we’ve designed and constructed a transfer plasmid with specific applications for Alzheimer's treatment. This plasmid facilitates the production of viral particles carrying the gene of interest. The innovation of our design stems from advanced strategies, which are based on cutting-edge systems identified in the research literature and detailed extensively in the experiment design section. Our parts have been successfully registered in the iGEM part library, providing a valuable resource for future teams working on similar therapeutic applications.
Take a look at our Parts.Unfortunately, the current approaches to Alzheimer's therapy are insufficient. Existing treatments slow down disease progression and provide patients with a few additional years of clarity. However, they do not address the core pathology of the disease; rather, they serve only as palliative care for the patient's symptoms and come with a range of significant side effects. The final stage of the disease typically arrives swiftly and remains unavoidable.
In our project, we propose utilizing these engineered vexosomes as a novel means to deliver therapeutic agents directly to neuronal cells, ensuring targeted treatment while minimizing systemic side effects. Our therapy is designed to face the disease directly, focusing on its underlying causes instead of just alleviating its symptoms. By addressing tau hyperphosphorylation instead of amyloid plaques, we aim to intervene at a critical point in the disease progress, potentially halting its advancement and alleviating the more debilitating effects on cognitive function and daily living.
However, the path to eliminating Alzheimer's remains lengthy, and we aspire that Project Lethe will serve as an inspiration for future iGEM researchers to build upon our work and advance the development of this concept.
Our innovative approach holds significant potential for broader applications in the treatment of other tauopathies and neurodegenerative disorders.
By utilizing our delivery system to target tau protein aggregation and dysfunction, we may have the opportunity to alleviate the fundamental causes of several types of other Tauopathies that share pathological features with Alzheimer’s disease.
Furthermore, this delivery system's flexibility, regarding the load of vexosomes and the gene of interest, encoded by rAAV, opens up possibilities for exploring its applications in other neurodegenerative diseases. By tailoring the therapeutic payload according to specific requirements, we could manage to broaden the scope of our research and offer hope for more effective treatments across a range of challenging neurological conditions.
By replacing the RVG29 neural targeting peptide with a molecule targeting another human tissue, we can customize the delivery system to treat a range of non-neurological medical conditions. This adaptability expands the application of our therapy beyond Alzheimer’s, potentially aiming the treatment of several types of cancer, autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders.
As the Patras Medicine Team, we strongly encourage future iGEMers to push the boundaries of Project Lethe beyond Alzheimer's disease, by adopting and upgrading our methodology, in order to revolutionize the treatment of many severe conditions that afflict humanity.
The Dry Lab subteam was responsible for both Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) simulations, which offer critical insights into biological processes essential for successful drug delivery. Specifically, our Molecular Dynamics simulations focus on affirming the binding affinity between RVG-29 and Alpha 7 NACHR, key components in targeted delivery. On the other hand, our Agent-Based Model simulates the passage of exosomes through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), incorporating important factors such as cytokines, neuro-inflammation, the BBB's defensive mechanisms, and physical restrictions within a simplified biological environment. We urge fellow iGEM teams to utilize our findings and tools to bolster their own research efforts. For additional details on the simulations mentioned above, please check here.
In this guide, we share the essential insights and experiences we've gained throughout our entrepreneurial journey, focusing on the development of our innovative idea. Our goal is to provide actionable advice and practical strategies for future iGEM teams, enabling them to effectively navigate the complexities of building their business and bringing their product to market. We hope that these lessons will serve as a valuable resource as you embark on your own entrepreneurial endeavors.
Understanding the market landscape is crucial for transforming innovative ideas into successful ventures. To facilitate this, we have crafted a comprehensive Questionnaire Template for Primary Market Research. This questionnaire aims to capture the insights and perspectives of industry experts, enabling us to refine our product and strategy.
By participating, you will not only contribute to the
advancement of our project but also help pave the way for
future iGEM teams as they navigate the complexities of market
research. Your expertise is vital in shaping a solution that
meets real-world needs.Dive into the questionnaire below and
join us in making a meaningful impact in the field!
Questionnaire
Our team, through a variety of initiatives, has actively engaged in educational outreach, inclusivity efforts, and the promotion of sustainability. These actions not only reflect our commitment to the community but also offer valuable tools and insights for future iGEM teams aiming to make a broader social impact, particularly in the field of Alzheimer's research and beyond.
We developed an interactive card game designed for young children, introducing fundamental biological concepts such as cells, DNA, RNA, proteins, and Alzheimer’s disease. By simplifying complex ideas, we aim to inspire curiosity and understanding in future generations. This game can serve as a valuable educational tool for future iGEM teams focusing on Alzheimer's, enabling them to educate and engage children in a fun and meaningful way.
You can access the card game here...In collaboration with a young girl whose grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s, we created a touching fairytale that expresses the confusion and emotions experienced by children who have loved ones with this disease. This narrative is a powerful resource for raising awareness and educating young audiences about Alzheimer’s, fostering empathy and understanding. Other iGEM teams can utilize this fairytale to promote compassion and awareness in younger generations, helping to break down the stigma surrounding the disease.
You can access the Fairytale here...Our team developed the 'Lethe' application, a comprehensive tool designed to support both Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. This app includes cognitive exercises, physical activities, music therapy, and personal profiles for both patients and their loved ones. It tracks progress through scoring systems, enhancing both mental and physical wellbeing. Future iGEM teams can build upon this application, adding new features to improve its functionality and further support the Alzheimer's community.
Recognizing the diverse backgrounds of participants in our local community, we created various guides tailored to promote inclusivity. For example, we developed a lab safety guide in Braille, as well as in Albanian and Turkish, to accommodate minority groups in our country. These guides ensure that everyone, regardless of language or ability, can fully understand and participate in laboratory safety protocols, particularly important for future iGEM teams working in diverse environments.
You can access the safety guide here...Additionally, we crafted a behavioral guide for interacting with Alzheimer's patients, also available in multiple languages. This resource not only raises awareness of the disease but also equips teams with the knowledge needed to engage with patients respectfully and effectively. We encourage future teams to expand upon this guide, adapting it based on their experiences and local needs.
You can access the Behavioral guide here...Lastly, we designed a project guide, simplifying the initial stages of complex scientific endeavors for teams to better understand and build upon the work of previous teams. Available in the same languages as the other guides, this resource provides a foundation for newcomers, offering clarity and direction at the onset of their projects.
You can access the Project guide here...Our team took great care in designing an inclusive lab layout, emphasizing ease of movement and participation for all individuals. This design includes wider pathways and specialized equipment, such as adjustable workbenches, making the lab more accessible to individuals with disabilities. By fostering an environment that is open to all, we set a precedent for equality and respect in scientific spaces. Future teams can use our layout as a model, adapting their own lab spaces to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can contribute meaningfully to their projects.
Our initiatives align closely with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and reducing inequalities (SDG 10). Through our educational outreach, technological development, and inclusive practices, we strive to promote sustainable progress in both the scientific community and society at large.
In conclusion, our work reflects a strong commitment to education, inclusivity, and sustainability, with each project offering practical resources for future iGEM teams to build upon. Whether through our educational games and fairytales, the Lethe app, or our inclusive lab design, we hope to inspire future teams to continue making meaningful contributions to both science and society.
When promoting and developing a project, how elements like lab steps, diagrams, and images are presented is crucial. To help future iGEM teams working on medical projects with similar procedures like infographics, exosomes, and neurons, we’ve created a graphic design archive. This PDF, which can be opened in Adobe Illustrator or similar tools, is free to download and customize for your own project.
You can access the pdf here...