LightCure

Light for double specificity and efficacy without burden

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare disorder in which pancreatic beta cells overproduce insulin, causing life-threatening hypoglycemia and long-term damage including brain damage and epilepsy. With no approved causal therapy, treatment is aimed at controlling blood glucose levels, which is often associated with significant side effects. One possible treatment, pancreatectomy, often leads to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), substituting one disease for another.
The LightCure project is developing an innovative, targeted photodynamic therapy (tPDT) that selectively destroys the excess beta cells in the pancreas. This therapy could significantly improve the quality of life of affected patients and their families.
In addition to medical research, the development of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and shared decision making (SDM) materials is another key aspect of the project. PROMs are specific questionnaires that measure the well-being and quality of life of patients and their families. Since no specific instruments for CHI exist, a new PROM will be developed that takes into account the needs and challenges of CHI patients in different age groups.
The SDM materials will be developed in order to involve the patients and their families in the decision making process. Clear communication and shared decision making will ensure that treatment plans meet individual needs. This project will therefore not only improve medical care, but also the involvement of patients and families in the treatment process.

Kooperationspartner

  • Prof. Dr. Martin Gotthardt (Radboudumc, Department of Radiology and Nucl. Medicine, Nijmegen, Netherlands)
  • Dr. Johannes Hofland (Erasmus Universitair Medish Centrum Rotterdam, Department of Internal Medicine, Rotterdam, Netherlands)
  • Dr. Oliver Blankenstein (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Experimental Paediatric Endocrinology, Berlin, Germany)
  • Prof. Dr. Markus Hacker (Medizinische Universität Wien, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Wien, Austria)
  • Dr. Fritz Andreae (PICHEM Forschungs- und EntwicklungsGmbH, Raaba-Grambach, Austria)
  • Dr. Maarten Brom (TRACER Europe BV, Department of Clinical Development, Groningen, Netherlands)
  • Dr. Tai Pasquini (Congenital Hyperinsulinism International, Cedar Crest, New Mexico, United States)
  • Dr. Pratik Shah (Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey Research Institute, London, United Kingdom)
  • Dr. Miguel Garcia-Guzman (Rakuten Medical Inc., Translational Sciences, San Diego, United States)

Projekt Team:

Dr. Stefanie Witt
Projektlaufzeit
-
ProjektBudget
8.000.000
Mittelgeber
EU HORIZON
Einrichtungen
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