Project description
Solutions for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia prognosis
Predicting the clinical behaviour of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is challenging, as the disease can remain stable for years or progress to aggressive forms with a poor prognosis. DNA methylation is related to cellular identity, and can help track cancer evolution, with each aspect holding significant prognostic value. Can these variables be combined into a single score? The ERC-funded TEMPLe project aims to use information about cellular memory in the cancer epigenome. By integrating three key variables, it will generate personalised risk scores to predict outcomes for CLL. The project will develop a user-friendly digital platform for risk prediction and prognosis assessment, coordinating closely with the Technology Transfer Office and IP experts to establish a robust intellectual property strategy.
Objective
Predicting the future clinical behaviour of a patient’s cancer remains a major scientific and clinical challenge. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), the most common leukaemia in the Western world, exhibits a broad range of clinical behaviours. The disease begins with a premalignant state that can later progress into an asymptomatic, progressive and highly aggressive form with a poor prognosis. Predicting the risk and timing of progression is a major unmet clinical need in CLL. Through our ERC-SyG grant BCLLatlas and previous studies, we have revealed that DNA methylation plays a key role in cellular identity and memory. These observations indicate that: 1) neoplastic cells carry epigenetic imprints of their cellular origin allowing the distinction of epigenetic subtypes; 2) a mitotic clock traces the proliferative history of cancer cells; and 3) stochastically fluctuating DNA methylation serves as a molecular barcode to track cancer evolutionary dynamics. In CLL, all three nuances of epigenetic memory have a profound and independent prognostic impact. Can these independent prognostic variables be integrated into a single score? In TEMPLe, we propose to leverage the rich information on cellular memory that is encoded within the cancer epigenome by integrating these three variables and generating personalized risk-scores to predict future clinical outcomes of CLL. We will make significant steps towards developing solutions suitable for clinical translation by 1) generating a user-friendly digital platform for risk prediction and prognosis assessment, 2) defining the intellectual property (IP) strategy and best exploitation route in close collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office and IP experts. In the medium term this will improve the clinical management of CLL, and in the long term, this strategy could be applied to other cancers, providing a valuable global asset in precision oncology.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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)
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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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08036 Barcelona
Spain
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