ProREGEN : originality, innovation, market viability and the value for society

The scientific project “ProREGEN”, developed by Mónica Sousa, Sara Sousa and Ana Rita Pinto Costa, from the Institute of Research and Innovation in Health of the University of Porto (i3S), is the winner of the Bluepharma | University of Coimbra Innovation Award 2017. “ProREGEN” is a therapy that intends to improve the regeneration of the nervous system, where the repair of the spinal cord is necessary, acting on lesions of the nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, through the Profilin-1 (Pfn1) protein that regulates the cytoskeleton. The jury highlighted its originality, innovation, market viability and the potential value for society, which is why the first place amongst 23 competing projects was awarded. PROREGEN team points out that despite “considerable progress” in medical, surgical and rehabilitation procedures, “there are no effective treatments for neurological recovery.” Therefore, it is essential to identify therapies that promote axon regrowth (extension of the neuron that establishes a connection to a target cell) and repair of the marrow, acting on lesions of the nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases.