ENATRANS: The Enabling NAnomedicine TRANSlation

The Enabling NAnomedicine TRANSlation (ENATRANS) project is of relevance as a translation-focussed networking opportunity. It aimed to provide insight into the broader research and innovation ecosystem; specifically, how external inputs can help facilitate nanomedicine research to make an impact. It demonstrates the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to attend to different aspects of the innovation pathway, and the need for relationships to be built and strengthened over time, to provide opportunities for meaningful collaboration.

Aims of the project

Nanomedicine is multidisciplinary, drawing on insights from chemistry, physics and biology. Scientists engaged in basic research are not always aware of the reality of the clinical context and therefore benefit from being connected with stakeholders further down the pipeline, to advise on how their research findings can be successfully applied and usefully translated. The ENATRANS project was set up with the aim of providing an innovation hub for nanomedicine, with a continuum of support for stakeholders engaged in developing nanomedicine solutions. The project was set up to enable researchers to move beyond proof of concept ideas, to apply their findings in a clinical setting. The project was coordinated by Nicolas Gouze, a senior consultant at VDI/VDE Innovation.

Project achievements

The main output for the project was the initiation of the Nanomedicine award, which was set up to showcase projects to industry. The project also produces guidelines for interested parties, relating to challenges for translation, such as regulations and pricing / reimbursement. This is positioned as a ‘compendium for successful translation’ drawing on the discussions and experiences of the Translation Advisory Board to provide guidance to the sector. Dissemination activities have been organised around the activities of the Translation Advisory Board, to engage with potential award recipients, to showcase projects to industry partners and to encourage expert participation. Given the nature of the technologies being explored, and the potential for public misunderstanding, a ‘Curing and Human Improvement’ workshop was held to consider the societal acceptability of different kinds of technologies.

A key outcome of the project was that it provided recognition of particular projects, particularly amongst industry partners, and a platform to engage and network. This allowed access to expertise (e.g. academia, hospitals, large companies and investors) that would otherwise have been very challenging to incorporate. It has helped to raise the profile of award winners and build an EU network.

In addition, another outcome, following the end of the project, was the development of the NOBEL Project[1], which aims to continue the work of the Translation Advisory Board and provide a unique ecosystem to support healthcare translation.

Project impacts, barriers and enablers

The impact of the ENATRANS, and specifically the TAB has been significant already. As a result of ideas discussed within the board and subsequent advice, several start-ups have been created. Projects have successfully moved beyond the proof of concept, which is important for the primary aim of the project, but is also vital to realise additional societal impact. The key elements for the success of ENATRANS, were networking, engagement, listening, community, multidisciplinarity, cross-sector, and sustainability. Regulation of innovation is a key challenge, and significant barrier to impact. ENATRANS provides specific support to guide awardees through the regulatory pathway, as a way to address this particular barrier.

[1] NOBEL Project | A unique ecosystem to make healthcare revolution happen in Europe (nobel-project.eu)