MRC-based therapy holds great promise as a treatment for a wide range of immunologically-mediated diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and transplant rejection; however, this approach remains highly experimental and cannot be accessed except through clinical trials. The INsTRuCT Consortium is not itself sponsoring any studies, but several consortium partners are responsible for on-going and future clinical trials. Patients and physicians with an interest in these clinical studies are directed to the information and contacts listed below:
Multiple Sclerosis
H2020 ReSToRe is a joint initiative by researchers and clinicians from Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a condition that affects the Brain and Spinal Cord. https://www.h2020restore.eu/
Patients can connect to ReSToRe through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/h2020restore/.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Professor John Isaacs and Dr. Catharien Hilkens are pioneers of dendritic cell-based therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis. More information about the AuToDeCRA project is available from the University of Newcastle (https://www.newcastlebrc.nihr.ac.uk/news/1-1m-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-research/) and VersusArthritis (https://www.versusarthritis.org/) websites.
Bone Marrow and Solid Organ Transplantation
ReSHAPE aims at transforming the treatment of patients suffering from undesired Immunity or Inflammation who presently have limited curative treatment options by applying next-generation Treg approaches that overcome the limitations of 1st generation Treg product developments. https://www.reshape-h2020.eu
Dendritic Cell (DC) vaccination against Cancer
DC vaccines stimulate immune responses against cancer and can overcome tolerance of immune effector cells induced by tumor cells. CiMaas is preparing for a Phase 1 clinical trial of DC-based vaccine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Patients will be treated using CiMaas’ proprietary DC platform in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor Nivolumab. https://cimaas.com/