Project description
Advancing biotechnology and medicine through precision-engineered synthetic circuits
Synthetic gene circuits have great potential for engineering human cells for biotechnological and therapeutic applications, but a lack of versatile, modular molecular components limits current methods. The ERC-funded DIMERCIRCUITS project will develop modular artificial dimerising transcription factors, which are regulated by competitive inhibitory proteins that prevent homodimerisation and enable reversible gene expression regulation. This creates a platform for synthetic circuits and programming cellular behaviour. The project will use patient-derived organoids to address Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare neurodegenerative disorder, by engineering a gene-dosage compensation circuit. Ultimately, it will advance biotechnology and medicine through precision-engineered synthetic circuits.
Objective
Synthetic gene circuits offer considerable potential for engineering human cells to perform complex functions for innovative biotechnological and therapeutic applications. However, current approaches are limited by the lack of versatile, scalable and modular molecular components. DIMERCIRCUITS aims to overcome these barriers by developing a novel class of Modular Artificial Dimerizing transcription factors (MADTFs) whose activity is dynamically regulated through interaction with competitive inhibitory proteins (ΔTFs). These ΔTFs competitively heterodimerize with MAD-TFs preventing their homo-dimerization and thus their function. This dual strategy enables dynamic and reversible regulation of gene expression, establishing a novel technological platform to build synthetic circuits and program cell behaviour. The compact and modular design of MADTFs and ΔTFs not only facilitates their integration into a variety of biotechnological applications but also enhances their potential for clinical translation. Computational modeling and machine learning techniques will be employed to explore the design space of synthetic circuits based on these components, ensuring they meet desired regulatory functions. This framework will guide the experimental implementation of synthetic circuits in human cell lines. As a proof of concept, the therapeutic potential of DIMERCIRCUITS will be demonstrated in patient-derived organoids for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia, a rare genetic neurodegenerative disorder. By engineering a gene dosage compensation circuit, DIMERCIRCUITS aims to achieve precise regulation of therapeutic gene expression within a narrow window, independent of viral vector uptake, thereby mitigating the overxpression-related toxicity risks associated with current gene therapy approaches. DIMERCIRCUITS aims to establish a foundational technology for precision-engineered synthetic circuits enabling transformative advances in both biotechnology and medicine.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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-ADG
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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.
00185 ROMA
Italy
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.