The treatment of brain disorders is extremely challenging as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the brain's own defence system, actively blocks or expels curative drugs from entering the brain. Currently, nanotechnology is being applied to generate innovative delivery devices, collectively called nanocarriers, to overcome this major hurdle. One of the most promising nanocarriers to enhance delivery of drugs to the brain is currently in clinical phase II/III, being developed by the Dutch SME to-BBB (applicant). Still, in order to gain maximal benefit from these novel developments and to enable improved delivery of drugs to the brain, we need to understand more on the working mechanisms of such brain-targeting technologies, the topic of the current application. The BrainTrain project will offer three early stage researchers (ESRs) the opportunity to thoroughly investigate the different underlying aspects of BBB traversal. This will allow them to discover and improve nanocarriers for treatment of central nervous system (CNS) related diseases. All ESRs will be trained on state of the art technologies to study BBB transport. All will receive onsite, in-depth training on to-BBB's G-Technology® and the ESR will match this knowledge with the specific and complementary knowledge on mechanisms involved in brain delivery from the three academic institutions involved in BrainTrain. Brain delivery will be tested in vitro on 3D BBB models developed within this project and subsequently in animal models to show in vivo proof of concept. The work will lead to a fundamental understanding of BBB transport mechanisms which is key for further improvements of treatments for brain diseases. The cutting-edge science, knowledge and expertise accumulated and developed in their PhD programs will provide the BrainTrain ESRs with a significant advantage over their competitors on the future market place.
