Objective
DEFENDER will address the need for innovative intervention strategies against viruses with epidemic potential, by adopting a comprehensive and integrative platform approach. DEFENDER’s revolutionary Research and Innovation pipeline will focus on preventing virus entry through a host-directed bottom-up approach based on functional genetics in parallel to a top-down virus glycoprotein-centered approach. We will identify novel host dependency and restriction factors, including receptors and proteins involved in viral attachment and binding, endosomal uptake and virus genome uncoating, as targets for antiviral therapy. In parallel, we will use recombinant viral glycoproteins to identify broadly neutralizing nanobodies and novel epitopes for the AI-based design of next generation immunogens and the improvement of therapeutic antibodies. The host bottom-up functional genetic approach will be applied to Nipah, Lassa, Zika, Dengue, Yellow fever, and Chikungunya viruses. Host factors will be identified using a unique arrayed CRISPR perturbation platform, combined with advanced statistical and machine learning approaches and mathematical modelling, mechanistic experiments, and cutting-edge imaging techniques. In parallel, the virus top-down glycoprotein-centered approach will lead to the identification and structural characterization of broadly neutralizing nanobodies targeting conserved epitopes of the glycoproteins of Nipah and Lassa viruses in pre-fusion conformation. DEFENDER will deliver innovative antiviral candidates that induce target degradation, next generation immunogens, and a novel concept to improve the activity of therapeutic antibodies, with proof-of-concept preclinical evaluation in mice. It will define the most vulnerable virus-host interactions, to deliver a robust development pipeline for novel antivirals, therapeutic antibodies, and immunogens and increase antiviral options against a wide range of priority (re-) emerging viruses.
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 virology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antivirals
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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.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.1.5 - Tools, Technologies and Digital Solutions for Health and Care, including personalised medicine
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HORIZON.2.1.4 - Infectious Diseases, including poverty-related and neglected diseases
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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-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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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-HLTH-2024-DISEASE-08
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
20251 Hamburg
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.