Objective
Colorectal cancer diagnosed under 50 years of age has been rapidly increasing over recent decades such that early onset colorectal cancer is soon expected to become the leading cause of cancer-related death in young adults. The cause of the increased incidence is not known. We have developed extensive pilot data supporting the hypothesis that, over recent decades, a global increase in the prevalence of mutagen-producing microbes in the colonic microbiome of infants has caused increased mutation burdens in colorectal cells early in life and, consequently, an increase in early onset colorectal cancer. We will exploit the synergy between international cancer epidemiology, microbiome research and large-scale cancer genomics to comprehensively test this hypothesis. We will collect samples of normal blood, stools, normal colorectal tissue, and colorectal cancer, together with extensive exposure data, from over 3,000 individuals across 10 countries, including individuals with early and late onset colorectal cancer, as well as children and adults without cancer. We will generate over 12,000 whole genome sequences from both tumour and normal colonic tissue, and analyse mutational signatures linked to potential genotoxin producing bacteria. In parallel, we will undertake experiments to link specific bacteria to mutational signatures. This will be achieved by screening bacteria for genotoxic activity in vitro and then by sequencing genomes from gut organoids that had been exposed to genotoxic strains to identify mutational signatures. This unparalleled dataset will be analysed using state-of-the-art computational methods and provide the evidence base for a comprehensive evaluation of mutagen-producing bacteria as causes of early onset colorectal cancer, potentially leading to new prevention strategies. Finally, we will demonstrate the power of the synergy between global cancer epidemiology, microbiome research and large-scale cancer genomics to reveal new causes of cancer.
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 health sciences public health epidemiology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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-SYG - HORIZON ERC Synergy 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-SyG
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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.
69007 LYON 7EME
France
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.