Objective
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy uniquely can provide life-long protection against tumor re-emergence upon clearance of even advanced-stage leukemia. However, for the more frequent solid tumor types (carcinomas, lymphomas), clearance of advanced-stage tumors, and especially the subsequent long-term protection, is only rarely achieved. The main reason for this is the multi-pathway immunosuppressive environment that these tumors evolve to overcome the selective pressure imposed by the patient’s immune system. This both hampers the initial attack by CAR-Ts, and often leads to low numbers of long-term persisting CAR-T cells, which tend to be in a state of functional exhaustion. Most attempts at overcoming this, target particular CAR-T cell proteins involved in individual pathways of immunosuppression. However, it is clear from early-stage clinical trials with such engineered CAR-T cells that multiple pathways will need to be tackled at the same time. Inspired by this challenge, I have chosen a radically different path: we are targeting the CAR-T cell glycocalyx, i.e. the assembly of glycosylated structures that forms the outer layer of the cell. The unique property of glycosylation pathways is that they often modulate a large range of cell surface receptor biology at the same time.
Excitingly, this new research line has now generated the first highly promising results with the discovery of a single CAR-T glycogene inactivation that results in robust clearance of a benchmark highly immunosuppressive carcinoma rechallenge, in mice that were CAR-T cured from their primary tumor months earlier. Encouraged by these exciting results that demonstrate strong long-term functional persistence of these glyco-engineered CAR-T cells, we have defined a programme to build on this finding and to explore a candidate set of further glycosylation engineering concepts in CAR-T cells, to further improve CAR-T therapy of solid tumors.
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.
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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-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.