Project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Programme, HORIZON-MSCA-2025-P
Project number:
Project value:
Funding amount:
Project manager:
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 10–13 per 100,000 people across Europe and generating an annual economic burden exceeding €3 billion. Despite decades of research, no therapy currently halts or delays disease progression, and available biomarkers either detect damage at late stages, lack cell-type specificity, or require invasive sampling.
AstroExo-HD addresses this unmet need by investigating a novel disease mechanism in which impaired protein homeostasis in astrocytes disrupts extracellular vesicle (EV) signalling and contributes to neuronal dysfunction. The project employs directly reprogrammed patient-derived astrocytes and neurons that preserve molecular features of aging, creating a highly relevant model of late-onset HD.
Through an interdisciplinary strategy combining multi-omics profiling (proteomics and RNA sequencing), advanced bioinformatics, and functional validation in patient-derived neurons, AstroExo-HD aims to identify and characterise EV cargoes that drive disease processes. This mechanistic focus strengthens the bridge between discovery and translation, providing robust evidence for future biomarker and therapeutic development.
Expected outcomes include high-quality molecular datasets, prioritised EV cargo candidates, and functional assays applicable to other neurodegenerative conditions such as ALS, FTD, and Alzheimer’s disease. The project lays the groundwork for next-generation, minimally invasive biomarkers measurable in biofluids and informs emerging therapeutic strategies, including nanobody-based neutralisation approaches.
By integrating scientific excellence, knowledge dissemination, and innovation management, AstroExo-HD contributes to strengthening Europe’s leadership in precision neurodegeneration research.
