Objective
Tumor phenotypic heterogeneity and plasticity lead therapy resistance and metastasis, being a major therapeutic challenge in oncology. Hence, beyond genomic alterations, precision medicine requires a deeper understanding of “driver phenotype states”. My group investigates how this concept underlies the limited benefit of immunotherapies in breast cancer (BC). Thus, I propose PLASTWIRE to dissect the identity of distinct tumor immune-evasive phenotypes in BC, and to attack them leveraging specific mRNA therapy to block phenotypic heterogeneity and boost BC immunity. The DISCOVERY PHASE of this proposal will address unbiased identification of malignant stem cell immune-evasive (SCIE) phenotypes and transcription factors (TFs) that govern these cell states by using a whole-genome TF library screening using a novel dual-cell state reporter of stemness and immune-evasion. Understanding the landscape of TFs governing aggressive stem cell and immune evasive phenotypes in cancer will reveal new opportunities to rewire “driver phenotype states”. Functional validations in preclinical BC models, and spatial mapping of the SCIE and other phenotypes in human BC samples will determine their clinical relevance. The ultimate goal of this proposal is the THERAPEUTIC PHASE leveraging mRNA therapy to introduce the precise expression of identified TFs suppressors of SCIE phenotypes or “phenotype state drivers”, thus constraining their plasticity and actionizing vulnerability to immune attacks enhancing immune-based therapies. This is a lock-in & wipe-out therapeutic strategy that can resolve unmet clinical needs of BC overcoming overarching challenges associated to cell plasticity, phenotypic heterogeneity and immunotherapy resistance.
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 medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology breast cancer
- medical and health sciences health sciences personalized medicine
- 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-ADG
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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.
08003 Barcelona
Spain
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.