8 October 2026, Padua – The Ministry of University and Research has published the ranking of projects awarded funding under the 2026 Synergy Grant Call.
Among the selected projects are NEXT-GT – Building a National Ecosystem for Translational Advanced Gene Therapies, dedicated to the development of a national ecosystem for advanced gene therapies, and LEveraging RNA for Advanced therapeutic Platforms: an integrated pipeline from target discovery to GMP-aligned manufacturing (RNA-LEAP), focused on the development of RNA-based therapeutic platforms, from target discovery through to manufacturing processes aligned with GMP standards.
NEXT-GT aims to strengthen the pathway connecting basic research with clinical development and application, fostering greater integration between scientific expertise, infrastructures, technological innovation and the transfer of research results.
RNA-LEAP, meanwhile, focuses on building an integrated pipeline for the development of novel RNA-based therapies, with the aim of advancing research from target identification through to the manufacturing of medicinal products according to GMP-aligned standards.
The funding awarded to both projects represents an important achievement for the advanced therapies sector and highlights the ability of Italian research to bring together complementary scientific and technological expertise. For the National Center partners involved in developing the proposals, this achievement is also the result of joint efforts that confirm the value of an approach based on collaboration between research and innovation.
With their different yet complementary approaches, the two projects will contribute to strengthening the connection between research, innovation and translational development, creating new opportunities to turn scientific results into therapeutic solutions.
For the advanced therapies sector, a new phase now begins, focused on turning project objectives into concrete activities and developing pathways capable of bringing research closer to clinical application.
NEXT-GT and RNA-LEAP are therefore part of a broader effort to strengthen the ability of the Italian research system to develop innovative technologies and advance them towards application, contributing to the creation of a competitive national ecosystem in gene and RNA-based therapies.
