TEST YOUR CNS DRUG CANDIDATES IN LIVING HUMAN BRAIN TISSUE

HCEMM is looking for an industry partner for IHI Call 14

Most CNS drugs that fail in the clinic looked good in animal models. The Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM) offers a way to test compounds in real human brain tissue before the first patient.

The opportunity

The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) published its draft topics for Call 14 in October 2026. The call is expected to open in early 2027 and will be a one stage call, so the full consortium must be in place at submission. One expected topic focuses on new, human relevant methods for drug discovery and preclinical development that reduce or replace animal use (3Rs). We are forming the consortium now.

What we bring

HCEMM has built a platform that keeps living human brain tissue, obtained during neurosurgery, viable for at least 72 hours under standardised, sterile conditions using custom instrumentation.

On this tissue we can:
• test small molecules and biologics for efficacy and safety
• deliver and evaluate oligonucleotides and other RNA therapeutics
• measure effects with [readouts, e.g. patch clamp electrophysiology, imaging, transcriptomics]

Tissue comes from more partner hospitals under an established ethical approval framework, with scalable samples per year. The work combines HCEMM’s Human Neuron Therapy, Translational Medicine Development, and Genome Integrity and DNA Repair groups.

Highlights for RNA therapeutics

Many antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs target sequences found only in humans. Animal models often cannot show target engagement for these molecules. Living human brain tissue can.

What we propose to do together

• Validate the platform with reference CNS compounds of known clinical outcome, both successes and failures, and compare the results with animal and clinical data.
• Test the partner’s own compounds or RNA candidates in human tissue.
• Extend tissue viability and standardise protocols so the platform can become a routine service for industry.

What the partner gets

•Early access to human tissue data on its own pipeline
• A say in how the platform is validated and built for industry needs
• Joint publications and [preferred access / terms] for the future commercial service
• A strong 3Rs case for regulators and internal decision makers

What the call requires

IHI projects need at least 45% of the budget from industry. This contribution is usually given in kind, as staff time, compounds, data or equipment, not as cash. The contributing company must be a member of an IHI founding association (EFPIA, EuropaBio, MedTech Europe, COCIR) or an approved contributing partner.

Next step

If you work in CNS drug development, RNA therapeutics, preclinical testing or new approach methodologies, contact us by 15 December 2026 for a short call. More details about our activities are available on request.

Contact:

Karri Lamsa, Prinicpal Investogator, Core Group Leader, HCEMM Karri.Lamsa@hcemm.eu