The research project FONTANA (nanoformulated RNA therapeutics for cardiac regeneration), coordinated by Prof. Gianluigi Condorelli – Director of the Cardiovascular Research Program at IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, has secured over €1.4 million in funding through the ERA4Health – NANOTECMEC 2024 European call, which supports the development of nanotechnologies and advanced therapies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

This 36-month project aims to develop a new generation of regenerative therapies for cardiovascular disease, particularly myocardial infarction and its aftermath. The objective is to stimulate cardiac muscle regeneration using therapeutic RNA. These RNA molecules, delivered via lipid nanoparticles, have the potential to promote the proliferation of heart cells and counteract fibrosis—two key processes for restoring function to a damaged heart.

“Regenerating the human heart has always been one of medicine’s greatest challenges. Today, thanks to advances in nanotechnology and RNA therapeutics, we can envision a new strategy to repair cardiac tissue in a targeted and safe manner. The FONTANA project represents a decisive step in this direction,” explains Prof. Gianluigi Condorelli, cardiologist and scientific lead of the project, co-directed with Prof. Marinos Kallikourdis.

The FONTANA consortium includes six academic and clinical partners from six countries – Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom – including IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, CNIC in Madrid, the University of Coimbra, Maastricht University, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, and King’s College London. Together, the researchers will develop nanoparticles capable of specifically targeting heart cells, delivering selected RNA molecules, and demonstrating their effectiveness in cellular, animal, and ex vivo human tissue models. The technology builds on experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrated the safety and efficacy of lipid nanoparticles for messenger RNA delivery.

The project lies at the intersection of cutting-edge research and clinical application. In addition to its scientific goals, FONTANA supports the training of young researchers, promotes collaboration among institutions, and encourages dialogue with biotech companies active in regenerative medicine and RNA-based therapies.

The European funding awarded to FONTANA confirms Humanitas’ role as an international hub for cardiovascular innovation and underscores the European scientific community’s commitment to pursuing novel solutions for one of the world’s leading causes of death: myocardial infarction and its complications.