Objective
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous clonal hematopoietic stem-cell malignancies of the elderly. MDS remain uncurable by existing pharmacological therapies, aimed at eradicating mutant clones. Clonal cytopenias of undetermined significance (CCUS) occur in elderly patients harboring MDS-driver mutations in their bone marrow cells and almost always preclude MDS, representing an optimal setting for studying the mechanisms driving the onset of MDS. In a preliminary study, I discovered that innate immune cells from patients with CCUS are transcriptionally rewired toward their activation but have signs of functional exhaustion and dysfunction. Therefore, I hypothesized that dysfunctions in the immune microenvironment favor clonal expansion and disease progression in early stages of MDS and, therefore, therapeutic approaches enhancing the immune response in CCUS or MDS patients may effectively prevent or arrest disease onset. To test my hypothesis, in this project I will dissect the role of the immune microenvironment in the expansion of premalignant clones in early-stage MDS. To do so, I will 1) transcriptionally and immunophenotypically characterize the immune microenvironment in MDS patients with low clonal burden at the single-cell level, including interactions between immune and non-immune cells; 2) assess the functionality of the immune cell repertoire in CCUS and MDS patients through the analysis of their secretome and the cells’ secretory and cytolytic functions; and 3) test the feasibility of targeting immune responses in MDS by performing proof-of-principle drug testing assays with new-generation immune checkpoint inhibitors and identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets. I expect the results of this project to shed light on the cell-extrinsic mechanisms eliciting MDS pathogenesis and provide a biologic rationale for the development of pharmacologic or cellular therapies to prevent or early-treat MDS before outcomes become dismal.
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 basic medicine immunology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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-MSCA-2022-PF-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.
31008 Pamplona
Spain
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.