Project description
Epigenetic biomarkers for blood cancer diagnosis
DNA modifications such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) are key epigenetic regulators that control gene activity. Accumulating evidence indicates that these modifications are implicated in cancer development and could be exploited for diagnostic purposes. However, current technologies cannot efficiently or simultaneously detect both marks. The ERC-funded MULTI-C project introduces a novel microarray platform that detects 5mC and 5hmC in blood samples in a single, minimally invasive assay. This streamlined approach requires tiny amounts of DNA, preserves sample integrity and enables highly accurate liquid biopsy diagnostics. By overcoming limitations of existing methods, MULTI-C promises to transform blood cancer diagnosis and monitoring while reducing dependence on bone marrow biopsies.
Objective
Blood cancers remain challenging to diagnose and monitor due to the standard of care requirement for bone marrow biopsies and limitations in current biomarker detection technologies. DNA modifications, specifically 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC)—are powerful epigenetic regulators in blood cancer development, providing valuable diagnostic and prognostic information. Despite their clinical importance, current technologies fail to simultaneously detect both 5mC and 5hmC with precision and efficiency, creating a significant barrier to clinical implementation of these epigenetic marks.
This proposal introduces an innovative microarray platform that overcomes these limitations by enabling simultaneous profiling of both 5mC and 5hmC modifications from blood samples within a single, cost-effective assay. Unlike current methods that struggle with modification differentiation, sample degradation, and complex workflows, our technology offers a streamlined approach that preserves sample integrity while delivering superior diagnostic accuracy. Our innovation lies in the ability to distinguish different cytosine modifications (MULTI-C), which provides significantly enhanced diagnostic accuracy compared to single-marker approaches. The platform's remarkable sensitivity allows detection from minimal DNA inputs, making it ideally suited for minimally-invasive liquid biopsy applications—a critical advancement for patient monitoring and precision medicine in hematological malignancies. This research has the potential to transform how blood cancers are diagnosed, monitored, and treated by addressing a fundamental technological gap in epigenetic profiling and reducing the need for bone marrow biopsies.
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 genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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)
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Topic(s)
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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.
69978 Tel Aviv
Israel
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