The EVBoost project, implemented at the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC), addresses one of the main challenges in regenerative medicine: the safe and cost-effective production of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Improving these processes can accelerate the development of new regenerative and cell-free therapies that offer safer and more affordable treatment options for patients with cancer, degenerative and immune diseases.
EVs are tiny biological particles that are naturally secreted by cells and play an important role in cell-to-cell communication. They are being widely explored as potential therapeutics for tissue repair, immune modulation and the treatment of chronic diseases. However, their production in the quantities required for clinical use is still insufficient. Current methods are time-consuming, expensive and often affect the quality of EVs.
To address this problem, the EVBoost team is developing a module for hollow fibre bioreactor systems, which are already being used in laboratories to grow stem cells. This module applies electromagnetic stimulation to mesenchymal stem cells, encouraging them to release more EVs. Preliminary studies show that this stimulation does not harm the cells and does not reduce the therapeutic potential of EVs. If validated, this approach would provide a scalable and non-invasive method to significantly increase EV yield.
The project not only advances technology, but also scientific understanding. Using advanced multiomics analyses (integrating proteomics and transcriptomics), it will investigate how stimulation affects cells and the EVs they produce. This knowledge will shed light on the molecular pathways involved and may open the way to tailor EV production in the future.
The main objective of the project is to take the EV stimulation module from a laboratory concept to a validated prototype. First, the project will test and validate the module in a hollow fibre bioreactor under controlled laboratory conditions, comparing EV production with and without stimulation. Secondly, biological mechanisms will be analysed using multiomics approaches, mapping changes in proteins and RNA to understand how stimulation affects EV composition and cell function. Thirdly, the project will secure intellectual property rights through a primary patent application to protect the innovation and strengthen its future commercialisation. Fourth and finally, it will prepare the next stages of development by conducting targeted market research, engaging potential users and developing new grant applications to support scale-up and clinical transfer.
In healthcare, improving EV production could accelerate the development of new regenerative and cell-free therapies, offering safer and more affordable treatment options for patients with cancer, degenerative or immune diseases. On the economic front, the project will contribute to the growth of Latvia's biotechnology sector, creating opportunities for local innovation, collaboration with international partners and potentially new high value-added jobs.
The project also strengthens the scientific knowledge base by providing new insights into how this type of stimulation affects cells at the molecular level. This can not only support EV-based therapies, but also inspire future biomedical technologies in other fields. Importantly, EVBoost invests in the development of human capital, as all research tasks are carried out by students, PhD students and young researchers under an internationally experienced principal investigator. This ensures skills transfer, knowledge transfer and the sustainability of the Latvian scientific ecosystem. The project team is led by BMC researcher Karīna Narbute.
