Objective
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting immune checkpoints have revolutionized cancer treatment but exhibit several challenges, most notably, limited intratumor efficacy and relatively low patient response rates. Endowing these mAbs with immune-cell-recruitment capabilities may offer the solution to these drawbacks. This assumption is based on our recent findings that the effectivity of a given checkpoint mAb relies not only on its binding to its target T-cells receptor but also on the direct interaction of the targeted T-cell with dendritic cells (DCs). Our results suggest that the low-frequency or dysfunctionality of such stimulating immune synapses following checkpoint mAb treatments hinder their anti-tumor efficacy. Therefore, the outcome of not taking this T-cell-DC licensing loop mechanism into account in mAb design is suboptimal checkpoint mAbs.
To overcome these limitations, we propose here to develop a series of bi- and muti-specific immune synapse engager antibodies as a new approach to enforce immune interactions for cancer immunotherapy. We will apply in-vivo genetic tools and high-dimensional analysis of the immune response on the spatial, cellular, proteomic and transcriptomic levels to provide critical insights into immune synapses that mediate effective T-cell anti-tumor activity. We will then harness this knowledge to apply antibody-engineering approaches and treatment regimens to maximize anti-tumor activity. We will explore and target T-cell-DC synapses that enable antagonistic (Aim 1) and agonistic (Aim 2) checkpoint mAbs and additional types of immune cell interactions underlying favourable immune surveillance of tumors (Aim 3). This study will introduce a novel approach for cancer immunotherapy using drugs that engage physical crosstalk between key immune cells. Ideally, this study will yield reagents with potent anti-tumor efficacy and well-characterized in-vivo activities that can be readily translated for evaluation in human patients.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7610001 Rehovot
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.