The European Network for Cell Imaging and Tracking Expertise (ENCITE) improves existing cell-based therapies in the treatment of cancer.

The European Network for Cell Imaging and Tracking Expertise (ENCITE) comprises five
main areas of work: novel imaging technologies, novel imaging reporter probes, novel tools for cell labelling, pre-clinical validation and translation towards clinical application.

The overall generic objective is to establish and validate cell homing for therapeutic delivery to target organs. The major disease-oriented objective relates to an improvement of existing cell-based therapies in the treatment of cancer.

Specifically, project objectives include:

• the development of new imaging methods to improve the spatio-temporal tracking of labelled cells
• the generation of dual- and multimodality imaging procedures
• the generation of procedures that will improve the sensitivity and specificity of cellular labelling
• new methods for quantitative assessment are being developed that will generate reliable biomarkers of the cell fate and therapeutic effects
• establishing the clinical potential of novel imaging approaches in preclinical studies related to neurological, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as to cancer and diabetes

Thanks to a strong collaboration of 26 European institutes and three from Israel with outstanding expertise in cell imaging and tracking, the consortium has an ambitious mission:

• to develop and test new MR and optical imaging methods
• to develop and test biomarkers to get a more comprehensive picture of cell fate and the reaction of the immune system
• to improve and develop cell therapy for the benefit of an European patient