Project description
Using worm biology to detect cancer
Early detection remains a major challenge for breast and prostate cancer. Current screening tools are invasive or prohibitively expensive, limiting patients’ ability to get a timely diagnosis. Researchers are now turning to a small worm as a potential solution. This worm has a highly sensitive sense of smell that can detect chemical signals associated with cancer. The EIC-funded ULYSSES project aims to develop a portable urine test to identify cancer markers. It will use yeast cells containing olfactory receptors from the worm that connect to a light-emitting sensing system. When molecules associated with cancer interact with these engineered yeast cells, they will trigger a measurable optical signal. The device will use machine learning to interpret these signals, rapidly detecting cancer signatures non-invasively.
Objective
ULYSSES is a pioneering project aimed at developing a non-invasive, portable, and user-friendly biosensor for the early detection of breast and prostate cancers through urine analysis. Its core vision is to identify cancer-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and develop a biotechnological device for their detection in urine. The innovation lies in mimicking the extraordinary olfactory system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which can distinguish cancerous from healthy urine with over 90% accuracy. This ability is mediated by a large repertoire of olfactory receptors (ORs) expressed on specialized sensory neurons. ULYSSES replicates this sensing capacity in a synthetic biology framework by introducing selected C. elegans ORs into engineered yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). These ORs are functionally coupled to a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based biosensing construct. Upon binding cancer-associated VOCs, conformational changes in the ORs trigger measurable BRET signal shifts, serving as indicators of cancer-specific profiles with nanomolar sensitivity. In parallel, urine VOCs will be analysed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Machine learning will be applied to the spectral data to identify key compounds that differentiate cancer from healthy samples and link them to specific OR activation profiles. Engineered yeast biosensors, each with a distinct OR-BRET construct, will be arrayed on a disposable device. Upon urine exposure, BRET signal changes will be recorded and interpreted via an AI algorithm trained on activation heatmaps. This enables the identification of cancer-related patterns with high sensitivity and specificity. Feasibility is ensured by the convergence of expertise within a strongly interdisciplinary consortium. ULYSSES lays the foundation for a versatile diagnostic platform with broad applications in health monitoring and personalized medicine, with strong potential for societal and healthcare impact.
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.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors biosensors
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology biosensing
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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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.
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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.
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
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00161 Roma
Italy
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