Organ transplantation still faces limited success due to long-term graft failure and lifelong immunosuppression. Broad and non-specific immunosuppression exposes transplant patients to vulnerability, to infections, malignancies and cardiovascular diseases. There is a 20% rate of long-term graft failure.
The PHOENIX Project will tackle this challenge using novel nanotechnology, delivering true next-generation transplant medicine immunotherapy. PHOENIX, a cutting-edge 3-year project funded by the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, held its Kick-Off Meeting in Barcelona, Spain on the 20th of April 2023. Project Coordinator, Professor Giuseppe Remuzzi, Director Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, states:
‘Our mission is to develop an innovative nanomedicine that prevents graft rejection and induces transplant tolerance without compromising the host’s immunity to infections and cancer.’
What is PHOENIX?
PHOENIX is a ground-breaking project that aims to revolutionise transplant medicine by developing a new immunotherapy to prevent graft rejection and induce transplant tolerance, without compromising normal immunity to infections and cancer.
Why is PHOENIX needed?
Solid organ transplantation is often the only option for patients with end-stage organ failure. Despite transplantation success rates improving in recent years, life-long immunosuppression is required to prevent graft rejection, which comes with a risk of cancer, infections, and other complications. This places physicians in a dilemma, as they must balance the risk of rejection and graft loss with the risk of progression of infection and cancer. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. PHOENIX will address this global challenge by improving graft survival. This research project aims to significantly enhance patients’ quality of life, reduce waitlists and medical costs, and ultimately save more lives.
PHOENIX Partners
The PHOENIX team is a dynamic alliance of experts from four European countries (Italy, France, Spain and Ireland), uniting scientists, clinicians, industry professionals, and administrative specialists to accelerate progress and reach our ambitious goals in revolutionising transplant medicine. PHOENIX is led by the Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri in Italy (Prof. Giuseppe Remuzzi), partnering with Fundacio Clinic Per A La Recerca Biomedica in Spain (Prof. Pere Santamaria), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Rennes in France (Prof. Karim Boudjema) and Pintail Ltd in Ireland (Ciaran Clissman).
Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri in PHOENIX
Principal Investigator Prof Giuseppe Remuzzi is a world leader in clinical nephrology and transplant immunology. The team has unique expertise in kidney and liver transplant models and dissecting mechanisms underlying rejection and immunological tolerance. The clinical trial excellence of the group will inform the planning for clinical translation.

Our team at the hybrid kick-off meeting hosted by IDIBAPS, Barcelona
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Learn more about PHOENIX https://www.phoenix-he.eu/ Follow PHOENIX on Twitter @phoenix_nano, Facebook and LinkedIn.