CRYSTAL3

CRYSTAL3 is an international consortium (12 partners in 8 countries, led by University College Dublin) funded by EU Horizon 2020 with €887,800 to investigate a relatively unexplored cellular signalling pathway, seen across a range of human diseases. Central to this pathway are powerful molecules called cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) that are involved in the process of inflammation – the body’s response to fight injury or pathogens. Currently, drugs targeting CysLT receptors are only prescribed to treat airway inflammation. Although CysLT signalling receptors are found widely in the body (e.g. lungs, colorectum, heart, brain, eye), there is not much known about their role and therapeutic potential in cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases involving the eye and central nervous system. The CRYSTAL3 consortium will determine how CysLT signalling links to these diseases, to then explore potential targeted therapies and how any products and services co-developed can be commercialised.