INT2ACT · Innovative Nucleic Acids Technologies for Analysis, Detection and Treatment

In recent years, nucleic acids (NAs) have contributed significantly to advancing the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, infectious and rare diseases. Breakthrough technologies like genome editing tool CRISPR/Cas9, direct RNA sequencing, multi-omics analysis procedure for NAs analysis, bioinformatics and machine learning for data analysis, and targeted delivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) prove the increasing interest in NAs applicability. However, the full potential of NAs is yet to be unlocked, and the translation of NAs into clinical practice is still facing many methodological and technological limitations such as low detection sensitivity, limited sequencing capacity, lack of analytical methods for NAs therapeutics, and inadequate in vivo delivery. INT2ACT brings together 6 academic research units and 5 industrial partners to address these limitations by establishing new methods for detecting and analysing NAs in patient liquid biopsies, boosting available procedures for direct RNA sequencing, developing new methods for the synthesis and analysis of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) libraries, identifying new RNA targets, and optimise NA therapeutics delivery systems. The concept of harnessing NAs in the realm of medicine opens doors to an array of possibilities, including the development of therapeutic vaccines for cancer and innovative ASO-based therapies for addressing a multitude of genetic disorders. While advancing NAs’ research and technologies, INT2ACT will also contribute to forming the next generation of highly skilled experts through an interdisciplinary and intersectoral training programme delivered to 15 Doctoral Candidates. The network-wide training programme is designed to ensure that all INT2ACT fellows will have the skills for a successful career in or outside of research in any sector.