Objective
Pediatric high-grade gliomas are aggressive central nervous system (CNS) tumors with poor prognosis and no curative treatment options. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent one of the most abundant cell types of the tumor microenvironment (TME), and directly contribute to tumor-promoting and immunosuppressive mechanisms. Novel methods of CNS myeloid cell replacement provide a unique opportunity to effectively modify this critical tumor component. This project aims to overcome current treatment limitations through the preclinical development of adoptive cell therapeutic strategies targeting TAM in high-grade gliomas to reprogram the TME immune state:
Through the depletion of TAM and microglia, combined with the transplantation of hematopoietic donor cells, the TME will be repopulated with graft-derived myeloid cells. We will investigate the resulting immunological and clinical impact in different models of high-grade glioma. To further increase the effectiveness of this approach, we will perturb dysfunctional immune pathways in donor cells. Transplanted gene-edited cells will permanently disrupt the immunosuppressive state of the TME and empower an enduring anti-cancer response by the host’s adaptive immune system. In an orthogonal approach, we will engineer donor cells that – after myeloid differentiation in the CNS – are able to specifically recognize tumor antigens and actively eliminate cancer cells.
Collectively, my group will pioneer a novel treatment modality against brain cancer by replacing the CNS myeloid niche population with hematopoietic cells that can be engineered to withstand mechanisms of tumor resistance and attack malignant targets. The applicability of this approach in different models of pediatric high-grade glioma will emphasize its translational relevance.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
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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.
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.