Immune-Image: Speci c Imaging of Immune Cell Dynamics Using Novel Tracer Strategies

Programme(s): H2020-EU.3.1.7. - Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 (IMI2)
Topic(s): IMI2-2018-14-02 - Non-invasive clinical molecular imaging of immune cells
Call for proposal: H2020-JTI-IMI2-2018-14-two-stage
Funding Scheme: IMI2-RIA - Research and Innovation action
Grant agreement ID: 831514

Objective:
Immunotherapies have emerged as effective treatments for immune system-related diseases, such as cancer and in ammatory diseases. Although immunotherapeutics are effective not all patients bene t and side effects vary greatly. Thus, there is an unmet need for a personalized approach. Blood and tissue
biomarkers have played only a modest role up until now in assessing immune status in vivo and we believe that non-invasive whole body imaging will make a signi cant contribution in the future. Although the eld of imaging (PET, MRI, Optical Imaging) is ourishing, its application to patient immune status measurement and monitoring has barely been explored. Within Immune-Image we aim to develop new immunotracers for imaging speci c immune cell subsets, develop quantitative imaging work ows, validate the immunotracers pre-clinically in relevant disease models, produce the tracers in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant way, and conduct smart clinical trials, including with novel tracers. To this end, insights will be gained into the optimal use of drugs and a more e cient development of immunotherapeutics. Moreover, the success rate of immunotherapy development will be enhanced since our molecular imaging platform will provide novel insights into patient immune status, which will support drug development and treatment decisions. To achieve our goals, we have assembled an experienced international multi-disciplinary consortium composed of chemists, biologists, immunologists, physicists, pharmacists, information technologists, and
medical specialists with diverse and essential backgrounds who will join forces to design, synthesise, evaluate and validate immunotracers and create sustainable molecular imaging techniques that can bebroadly applied in the assessment of the immune status and immune modulation of patients. There will be
input from patients and regulators in order to assure optimal design and execution of immunotracer clinical trials.