The Karolinska ATMP Center - a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Karolinska University Hospital - and St. Erik Eye Hospital have signed a letter of intent to strengthen their partnership in research, development, and clinical trials of cell- and gene-based medicines, known as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). The goal is to accelerate the transition from research to clinical application, particularly for retinal diseases that currently lack effective treatments.
The Karolinska ATMP Center is a joint initiative between Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital. St. Erik Eye Hospital provides emergency and specialized eye care, as well as research and education.
The parties have now signed a letter of intent to expand their collaboration in several shared focus areas, including the production of cell and gene therapies, clinical trials, and treatments.
"I am very positive about this collaboration and hope it will enable new treatments to reach the patients who need them most, more quickly," says Anders Kvanta , senior consultant at St. Erik Eye Hospital and professor at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience , KI.
The Karolinska ATMP Center is one of Europe's leading facilities, bringing together research, manufacturing, and treatment under one roof.
ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products) are based on cells, tissues, and genes, offering new treatment possibilities, often with the potential to cure conditions that were previously difficult or impossible to treat.
"With close collaboration with St. Erik Eye Hospital, we ensure that groundbreaking ATMP research quickly enters clinical trials and hopefully leads to promising new treatments," says Knut Steffensen , associate professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine , KI, and director of the Karolinska ATMP Center.
