Objectives

Extracellular vesicles are small fragments of cells that were previously considered as cell waste, but that are now understood as unique communication systems between cells, tissues, and organisms. Vesicles, as possible carriers for active ingredients, could deliver active ingredients at the sites in the body where they are needed. The EV-TT Transfer Center cooperates with partners from the Salzburg economic area, because vesicles and their active ingredients may be easily absorbed with conventional foods. In order to make therapy development meaningful and cost-effective for the rapidly growing field of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), it is necessary to characterize the best possible way to ensure primarily safety and efficacy. This requires the development of appropriate processes for manufacturing and quality control. Unlike traditional medicines, the pharmaceutical industry for cell-based medicines cannot yet draw on a wealth of experience. Particularly in the field of extracellular vesicles, the new developments precede the current technological possibilities of characterization, making analytical technologies a limiting factor in the development and clinical testing of new therapeutic preparations.

The EV-TT Transfer Center aims to develop new analytical technologies to enhance the therapeutic use of extracellular vesicles. Within this objective, the focus is on application-oriented transdisciplinary basic research, on the one hand in regenerative medicine with the aim to support healing processes, and on the other hand in the field of drug delivery. The declared goal of the EV-TT Center is the transfer of transdisciplinary research results between research partners and the transfer of application-oriented research results to industry as well as the initiation of joint research and development projects in Salzburg. The long term perspective sees the EV-TT Transfer Center in Salzburg as a continued cooperation between Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Paris Lodron University Salzburg (PLUS) and the University Hospital (SALK), that capitalizes on bundling regional research expertise into an international reference and competence center for revolutionary and innovative therapies.  EV-TT will thus decisively support activities to established Salzburg as a science, technology and pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.