Objective
Host cells and microbial inhabitants form an intricate ecosystem in the human body, extensively influencing host phenotypes in health and disease. Despite much progress in sequencing-based cancer microbiome research, elucidating functional roles of bacteria in metastasis formation remains an important unsolved challenge. In the METABAC project, we will explore such bacterial roles as drivers of colorectal cancer metastasis. We will investigate new concepts on whether bacteria can equip cancer cells with malignant features, migrate within the host and potentially represent targets for cancer therapy.
In Aim 1, my group will characterize the microbial inhabitants of colon tumors and metastases. We will uncover bacterial species and their genetic features in metastases by using sequencing-, imaging- and culturing-based approaches.
In Aim 2, we will mechanistically dissect functional impacts of metastasis-derived bacteria on distinct stages of the metastatic process. For this, we will use specialized organoid, organ chip and orthotopic organoid-bacteria co-engraftment platforms that we have pioneered.
In Aim 3, uncovering the tropism, timing and routes of bacterial migration to different metastasis sites takes center stage. Bacterial strains and organoids derived from different metastasis sites will be co-engrafted into mice and traced to lymph node, liver and lung metastases.
The METABAC project will provide an unprecedented characterization of microbial roles in metastasis. Our combination of metastasis-derived bacterial strains with novel organoid, organ chip and in vivo platforms puts us in a unique position to close the gap between cancer microbiome sequencing and mechanistic studies and promises groundbreaking functional insights into host-microbe interactions in cancer and beyond.
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 microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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-2024-STG
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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.
69120 Heidelberg
Germany
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.