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Trans-splicing gene therapy for Stargardt disease: construction of molecular and cellular tools to targe


Thesis topic details

General information

Organisation

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.

Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.

The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
  

Reference

SL-DRF-25-0420  

Direction

DRF

Thesis topic details

Category

Life Sciences

Thesis topics

Trans-splicing gene therapy for Stargardt disease: construction of molecular and cellular tools to target ABCA4 gene mutations

Contract

Thèse

Job description

This project aims to develop an innovative therapeutic approach for Stargardt disease, a macular degeneration caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene. The strategy is based on SMaRT (Spliceosome-Mediated RNA Trans-splicing) technology, which enables mutation correction at the transcriptome level by replacing mutated exons of endogenous mRNA by trans-splicing with an exogenous RNA (PTM). Since the PTM contains only a part of the mRNA to be corrected, this approach can overcome the obstacle of the large size of the ABCA4 cDNA, which exceeds the carrying capacity of AAV vectors. The project will consist of several phases using molecular and cell biology techniques: construction of viral vectors for the expression of PTMs, production of cell lines to test the efficacy of binding domains (BD) to induce trans-splicing, and screening of BDs to optimize PTMs. Selected PTMs will then be tested in retinal organoids and animal models to demonstrate their therapeutic potential for the treatment of this genetic disease. As AAV is currently the most effective vector for retinal transduction, this project could open new therapeutic perspectives for Stargardt disease.

University / doctoral school

Signalisations et Réseaux Intégratifs en Biologie (BIO-SIGNE)
Paris-Saclay

Thesis topic location

Site

Saclay

Requester

Position start date

01/10/2025

Person to be contacted by the applicant

BEMELMANS Alexis alexis.bemelmans@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/JACOB/MIRCen
MIRCen
18 route du Panorama
92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses
01 46 54 96 29

Tutor / Responsible thesis director

BEMELMANS Alexis alexis.bemelmans@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/JACOB/MIRCen
MIRCen
18 route du Panorama
92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses
01 46 54 96 29

En savoir plus


https://jacob.cea.fr/drf/ifrancoisjacob/Pages/Departements/MIRCen/themes/interactions-cellulaires-modeles-biotherapies.aspx