Objective
Persistent inflammation during tumorigenesis drives myelopoiesis. Consequently, monocytes and granulocytes/neutrophils infiltrate the tumor microenvironment (TME) and differentiate into tumor-associated macrophages or myeloid-derived suppressor cells, creating an immune-suppressive microenvironment that hampers cytotoxic T cell function and limits immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy. ‘Reprogramming’ myeloid cells to adopt pro-inflammatory phenotypes is promising to restore immune function and enhance ICI responses. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a delivery platform for nucleic acids, as demonstrated by the mRNA-LNP COVID vaccines. Pioneering studies revealed that myeloid cells are robustly recruited to the vaccine injection site where they internalize mRNA-LNPs, leading to mRNA expression in monocytes. While nanoparticle (NP) transport into inflamed tissues and tumors has been attributed to ‘enhanced permeation/retention’ of the NPs, my recent findings, in an inflamed arthritis model, highlight a critical role of circulating myeloid cells in the active transport of intravenously injected LNPs. Therefore, I hypothesize that mRNA-LNPs can transfect tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells reversing immune-suppression. My-NANO will study interactions between myeloid cells and lipid-based NPs through the following objectives: (1) elucidating the role of myeloid cells in the transport of lipid-based NPs to tumors (WP1), (2) investigating how mRNA-LNPs influence innate immune responses/phenotype switches in myeloid cells (WP2) and (3) optimizing mRNA-LNP design for efficient/selective mRNA expression in myeloid cells (WP3). Based on this knowledge My-NANO will design mRNA-LNPs to restore the phagocytic function of myeloid cells by knocking out SIRP-1α or by generating CAR-macrophages to enhance tumor responses to ICIs (WP4). By employing state-of-the-art methodologies, My-NANO hopes to advance mRNA-LNPs as ‘myeloid cell therapeutics’ for cancer immunotherapy.
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 rheumatology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology nanomedicine
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- 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-COG
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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.
9000 GENT
Belgium
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.