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The iGUARD project impressed the jury. It involves the development of an inhalable drug for treating viral lung diseases.
Hannover Medical School (MHH) on the winners' podium: The project “iGUARD – Inhalable RNA Therapeutics for the Targeted Treatment of Lung Diseases” was awarded the Lower Saxony Innovation Prize 2025. A team led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Axel Schambach was delighted to receive the prize in the “Knowledge and Technology Transfer” category. The head of the Institute for Experimental Hematology and his team accepted the award yesterday at the award ceremony in Hanover from Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister of Science and Culture. The Innovation Award is presented by the Niedersachsen.next innovation network. It is endowed with 20,000 euros.
Active ingredient reaches the lungs directly
Despite successful vaccine development, there are still no effective drugs for most viral diseases. The iGUARD team wants to change that. In cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), MHH is developing RNA-based drugs for people with severe lung diseases. Because the active ingredients can be quickly adapted to different viruses, they also offer protection against newly emerging infectious diseases. A special, patented chemical structure of the RNA allows the therapeutic agents to be inhaled directly into the lungs, which increases their effectiveness and reduces severe side effects. Thanks to its high adaptability, the technology is suitable for accelerating the development of further antiviral therapies.
Innovative therapeutic approach
The iGUARD project has already received multiple grants from the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations as part of the SPRIND Challenge. “I am very pleased that our innovative therapeutic approach convinced the jury,” says Professor Axel Schambach, co-leader of the project. “The award will help us to further advance our development and bring the therapeutic agent to patients more quickly.” The MHH Institute for Experimental Hematology (Professor Axel Schambach, Prof. Dr. Dr. Adrian Schwarzer, Dr. Philippe Vollmer Barbosa) and the Department of Preclinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at Fraunhofer ITEM (Prof. Dr. Armin Braun, Dr. Philippe Vollmer Barbosa) are involved in the project.
Almost 100 applications
The Lower Saxony Innovation Award has been in existence since 2016. It is awarded annually by the Niedersachsen.next innovation network in the categories “Knowledge and Technology Transfer” and “Key Technologies.” The award recognizes forward-looking ideas that promote transfer between science and industry or enable technological breakthroughs. The patrons are Science Minister Falko Mohrs and Grant Hendrik Tonne, Lower Saxony's Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, and Construction. This year, almost 100 applications were submitted for the Lower Saxony Innovation Award.
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For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Axel Schambach, schambach.axel@mh-hannover.de
https://www.mhh.de/en/presse/mhh-insight/news-detailed-view/25-millionen-euro-fu....
Winners: The iGUARD team accepted the award from Minister of Science Falko Mohrs (right).
Copyright: Marek Kruszewski/Lower Saxony.next Innovation Network
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Winners: The iGUARD team accepted the award from Minister of Science Falko Mohrs (right).
Copyright: Marek Kruszewski/Lower Saxony.next Innovation Network
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