Objective
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies globally. However, efforts to translate CRC research findings into clinical advancements have been hampered by inadequate in vitro systems. Even the current gold standard organoid models remain severely limited as they lack the topobiological complexity required to fully capture CRC pathobiology ex vivo. Among other factors, their unsuitability to properly model the multifaceted interactions between CRC and its tumor microenvironment (TME) is particularly limiting, especially since the TME has emerged as an essential element to tumor biology. Crucially, while the TME is being successfully exploited for immunotherapy in many cancers, these therapies remain ineffective in more than 90% of CRC patients. Among the different components of the TME, the colon microbiota is particularly interesting for CRC tumor immunity as in vivo evidence indicates that it can regulate inflammation, modulate immune cell activity, and alter responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, whether anti-tumor immunity can be enhanced through targeted microbiomal-based therapies in CRC patients not responsive to immunotherapy has not been approachable in vitro due to the lack of suitable models. Building upon our expertise in microfluidics, tissue engineering, cell biology, and multiomic technologies, we aim to develop a groundbreaking ex vivo platform capable of integrating complex lymphoid and microbiomal microenvironments in patient-specific tissue-engineered miniature colons. This TME-oriented cancer model will reconstruct functional interactions among diverse components of the TME with unparalleled pathophysiological intricacy. It will be primarily used to shed light on the cancer–microbiota–immune axis, aiming to discover opportunities to harness microbiomal components for improving anti-cancer immunity in CRC. We envision that this project will pave the way towards personalized oncology approaches.
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 physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology colorectal cancer
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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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-2025-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.
37007 Salamanca
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.