Project description
Allosteric modulation of immune checkpoints for autoimmunity
Immune checkpoints are key regulatory molecules that modulate immune responses to maintain balance and prevent autoimmunity. Conventional drugs inhibiting these molecules have been explored for cancer therapy and autoimmune diseases. The ERC-funded PAMinMICE project will explore an entirely new strategy through the development of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that enhance checkpoint signalling. PAMs stabilise the interaction between checkpoint receptors and ligands, thereby promoting the suppression of immune responses prominent in autoimmune diseases. Researchers will test this pioneering approach in humanised mouse models of lupus, psoriasis and colitis. Project findings will pave the way towards a novel therapeutic avenue for autoimmune diseases.
Objective
The immune system's balance in fighting infections or cancer while avoiding autoimmune reactions is regulated by co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory immune checkpoints (ICs). ICs are major drug targets in immunotherapy, with antibodies (Abs) blocking inhibitory ICs to fight cancer, and Abs blocking stimulatory ICs in clinical trials for autoimmune diseases.
Surprisingly, but likely fuelled by the worldwide focus on IC inhibitors, the field largely ignored that ICs are genuine transmembrane receptors that transmit signals upon binding of an extracellular ligand. This leaves unexplored modes of therapeutic intervention that we uncover in my granted ERC-2023-ADG by validating allosteric Nanobodies (Nbs) that bind and stabilize ICs, to agonize their activity as first-in-class allosteric modulators, thus tipping the immune homeostasis balance opposite to IC inhibitors for treating autoimmunity.
Recently, we discovered the first-ever positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of an IC and characterized several PAMs of the human PD-1•PD-L1 complex that agonize PD-L1 binding to PD-1 (affinity) and stimulate IC signalling (efficacy) in a spatio-temporal-selective and pathway-selective manner. Building on these exceptional proof of concept data, I’m founding our next integrated drug discovery company focussing on allosteric immunotherapies as a new mode of therapeutic intervention.
With PAMinMICE, I will perform pioneering experiments in animal models and test positive allosteric modulation of the PD-1•PD-L1 interaction in double-humanized PD-1•PD-L1 knock-in mice as a new mode of therapeutic intervention for diverse autoimmune diseases: psoriasis, colitis, atopic dermatitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis. This study may provide the first preclinical evidence supporting the use of allosteric modulators targeting inhibitory ICs for treating such disorders, with the goals of (i) benefiting patients, (ii) strengthening our IP portfolio, and (iii) positioning us for successful fundraising toward the spin-off.
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 basic medicine immunology autoimmune diseases
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
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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-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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-POC
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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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - 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.