ABOUT the SPRINT ACTION

Over the past decade, within the developing scenario of regenerative medicine perinatal (Pn) tissues have been shown to harbour a vast array of cells with therapeutic potential. Even though historical clinical evidence, preclinical studies, and several ongoing clinical trials support this potential, there are still many open questions. The time has now come to combine the fragmented expertise and efforts to create a solid, multidisciplinary network that will act as a coalition for individual teams. 

The International Network for Translating Research on Perinatal Derivatives into Therapeutic Approaches (SPRINT), includes participants with extensive know-how in basic research, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, and the biomedical industry. SPRINT will join forces to strengthen the knowledge in the field, and overcome the bottlenecks of translation to provide innovative therapeutic applications of Pn-derived tissues, cells, and factors. 

Pn tissues are a large and diverse family, and this Action will focus on the following Pn Derivatives (PnD) from term pregnancies: amniotic membrane, chorion, Wharton’s jelly, amniotic fluid, and the cells isolated from these tissues, and the factors that these cells release. PnD offer several advantages, such as their easy and non-invasive procurement, abundance, and favourable ethical status. Furthermore, PnD have drawn much attention due to their reduced immunogenicity and immune-modulatory properties, making them attractive candidates for allogeneic transplantation. 

European research on PnD has delivered a precious reservoir of knowledge and expertise, and considering that most players are in this Action, the challenge is now to streamline the transition from bench to bedside, and to provide insight the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic potential.  

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The main aim of SPRINT is to implement an integrated scientific, medical, and industrial global network to comprehensively investigate and exploit the therapeutic potential of PnD.

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Specific research objectives are:
1. To approach consensus, to define guidelines, and to possibly set inputs for future standards for the processing and in vitro characterization of PnD;
2. To collect and critically analyze preclinical data from different groups in order to provide a clear understanding of the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms in different models; 
3. To foster networking between those who perform clinical trials in order to review, discuss and develop new and/or improved clinical strategies based either on Pn cell differentiation (e.g tissue engineering approaches) or on their paracrine-acting features (e.g. use of cells/factors for regenerative medicine approaches); 
4. To synergize regulatory experts, selected Patients’ Associations, researchers, GMP material providers, and clinicians in order to guide the latter for the successful implementation of efficient and safe clinical trials, backed with a proper regulatory support to lift barriers towards placing PnD on the market.

Overall, this Action will acquire knowledge from basic and applied research that will be the foundation of the development of clinical applications with ultimate benefit for patients.
 

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Laboratory of Experimental Hematology
Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (Vaxinfectio) 
Campus Drie Eiken - Lokaal D.S.652
Universiteitsplein 1 - 2610 Wilrijk - Belgium
E-mail: peter.ponsaerts(at)uantwerpen.be