Project description
Cancer neoantigen-based immunotherapy
Somatic mutations in cancer cells give rise to novel peptides that are not present in normal cells and are thus considered as non-self antigens by the immune system. As a result, these neoantigens can serve as therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy, offering the possibility for personalised treatment. The ERC-funded NeoIDC project aims to identify highly immunogenic tumour neoantigens and neoantigen-specific T-cell receptors, using a previously developed technique of dendritic cell reprogramming. The identified neoantigens will be tested for immunogenicity in vivo and the neoantigen-specific T-cells will be expanded for the development of potent cancer vaccines and adoptive T-cell therapies, respectively. Overall, this project will provide a foundation for developing personalised and effective cancer immunotherapies.
Objective
In cancer, genetic mutations result in production of tumor neoantigens restrictively expressed in transformed cells and serve as ideal molecular targets for cancer vaccines and adoptive T cell therapies. However, available methods for the identification of clinically relevant neoantigens driving potent anti-tumor immunity are highly inefficient. Thus, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to identify powerful immunogenic neoantigens to unlock the full potential of immunotherapy and treat currently untreatable cancers.
The NeoIDC platform has the radical vision to use the type 1 conventional dendritic cell (cDC1) reprogramming technology, arising from the ERC-funded project TrojanDC, to directly identify highly immunogenic tumor neoantigens and neoantigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) for the development of powerful cancer vaccines and adoptive T cell therapies. To achieve this, we will firstly identify tumor peptides presented on MHC class I and II by cDC1-reprogrammed cancer cells and validate immunogenicity in vivo. Secondly, we will expand neoantigen-specific T cells by co-culture with reprogrammed cancer cells, sequence TCRs and link to cognate neoantigens. This will facilitate the generation of potent cancer vaccines and tumor-reactive T cells for adoptive transfer. Experimental activities with collaborators and clinicians will be coupled with exploitation plans including partnership with Asgard Therapeutics, ensuring commercialization by generation of novel IP, broad and targeted dissemination and a new start-up company.
NeoIDC combines cDC1’s antigen processing and presenting abilities with the unique mutational profile of cancer cells to enable the direct identification of immunogenic neoantigens and cognate TCRs. Ultimately, this project will enable the development of the next generation of neoantigen-based vaccines and adoptive T cell therapies and will set the stage for a new era of safe, personalized and effective cancer immunotherapies.
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
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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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)
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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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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-POC2
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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.
22100 Lund
Sweden
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.