Project description
Breaking barriers in cancer treatment
In the complex world of cancer, immune cells called T cells are often silenced by inhibitory immune receptors (IRs), leading to treatment resistance. Current therapies, like checkpoint blockade, provide relief for some but leave many patients without a lifeline, especially those with IR-ligand deficient tumours. In this context, the EIC-funded REPRESSIT project aims to rewrite the rules of cancer immunotherapy by developing ligand-independent checkpoint therapeutics. This approach inhibits surface receptors by recruiting phosphatases to reignite exhausted T and NK cells, offering newfound hope for patients facing ineffective treatments. With a consortium of experts spanning IR biology, tumour immunology, protein engineering, biophysics, and proteomics, REPRESSIT is set to design and optimise the efficacy of these new therapeutic molecules.
Objective
In the tumor microenvironment, continuous or tonic stimulation of T cells induces checkpoint signaling through inhibitory immune receptors (IRs). This phenomenon suppresses T cell function, contributing to an exhaustion phenotype and their consequent failure to eliminate cancer cells. Checkpoint blockade through IR-targeting antibodies (e.g. anti-PD-1, anti-CTLA-4) can partially reverse this process, and has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. However, a large fraction of patients, e.g. with tumors that do not express IR ligands, do not benefit from this treatment. Thus, a large unmet need remains to be addressed.
We aim to change the current ligand-centric blockade paradigm. The REPRESSIT platform technology developed herein will provide a radically new approach, through development of a novel class of ligand-independent checkpoint therapeutics. These Receptor Inhibition by Phosphatase Recruitment (RIPR) molecules recruit tyrosine phosphatases to the IR and shut down IR signaling, thereby reactivating exhausted T or NK cells to effectively clear cancer cells.
The REPRESSIT consortium unites unique complementary expertise and models in IR biology, tumor immunology, protein engineering, biophysics and proteomics, to: 1) define the design principles of RIPR molecules against multiple checkpoint IR targets, 2) evaluate the IR mode of action of signal inhibition, 3) optimize RIPR molecule for their efficacy using preclinical cancer models, and 4) demonstrate in vivo proof-of-concept (PoC)), focusing on a highly-relevant panel of T and NK cell IRs known to display tonic signaling.
REPRESSIT will deliver a technology platform for off-the-shelf RIPR designs targeting phosphotyrosine-carrying IR. This project will provide the foundation for our long-term vision of innovative immune checkpoint therapeutics with unprecedented efficacy and provide a greatly improved perspective to the many cancer patients for which current treatment is ineffective.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- 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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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Topic(s)
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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-EIC - HORIZON EIC 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) HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDEROPEN-01
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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.
3526 KV UTRECHT
Netherlands
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