An EU-funded project will provide accessible and reliable information about cell and gene-based therapies. [scald=132729:sdl_editor_representation {"alt":"University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine building.","caption":"EuroGCT’s project team, hosted by the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (pictured), will coordinate the Europe-wide collaboration."}] The €2m initiative will develop an online hub to provide accurate, evidence-based information on the use of cells and genetic material to treat disease. A multilingual website will be developed to give scientific, legal and ethical information to patients, healthcare professionals and the public. It will also provide the research community, regulatory and healthcare authorities with information on the steps required for cell and gene therapy development, which are needed before treatments can be made available, experts say. The five-year project – EuroGCT: European Consortium for Communicating Gene and Cell Therapy – is led by the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences and brings together 47 partner organisations and institutions from across Europe, including the Roslin Institute. Common goal Leading cell and gene therapy organisations, research labs, experts in advanced therapy development and specialists in legal, ethical and societal issues will contribute with knowledge and expertise. Science communication specialists will collaborate with stakeholders to develop relevant material. EuroGCT has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. I am delighted to collaborate with experts across Europe to provide the best available information and resources on cell and gene therapy development. We hope that this will help address the challenge of informing practitioners, patients and stakeholders on advances in gene and cell therapy and provide engagement opportunities. Dr Gerry McLachlanRoslin Institute We are very excited about this new project. It’s part of our responsibility to engage with the public and patients to increase understanding about new and existing cell and gene-based therapies – especially in this era of misinformation – not least because patients, people affected by conditions and healthcare providers have to make important decisions around these new treatments. Professor Clare BlackburnInstitute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences Related Links EuroGCT website British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Dr Gerry McLachlan on cystic fibrosis
