Objective
Invasive fungal infections remain a major global health threat, with mortality rates approaching 50% despite existing treatments. However, treatment failure in fungal infection is frequently not due to classical drug resistance which is often caused by genetic mutations that block drug action. Instead, recurrent fungal infections are typically driven by antifungal tolerance: a poorly understood phenomenon where a subpopulation of cells survives and grows slowly under drug exposure. The evolutionary drivers and molecular mechanisms of antifungal tolerance, and how it relates to resistance, remain largely unknown. This project will dissect the tolerance-resistance evolutionary pathways in Candida albicans, a WHO-listed fungal priority pathogen. I will leverage a unique resource of 1,800 clinical strains from my host and collaborator labs, alongside cutting-edge approaches, including large-scale experimental evolution, high-throughput multi-omics (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics), and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. My key objectives are to: (1) identify the molecular signatures that distinguish between the development of tolerance and resistance, (2) determine whether stress responses, metabolic reprogramming, or proteome shifts, establish permissive conditions for subsequent genetic adjustments during evolution, and (3) develop novel strategies to disrupt tolerance evolution, such as adjuvant therapies and collateral sensitivity approaches. Hosted in the world-renowned Ralser lab at Charité, I will gain advanced training in systems biology and high-throughput analysis, while contributing my expertise in microbial evolution. Through targeted public engagement and open dissemination of findings, this project will raise awareness of antifungal drug failure and foster scientific collaboration. The fellowship will strengthen my path toward independence as a group leader in microbial evolutionary biology, while addressing one of the most urgent challenges in global health.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology molecular evolution
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
10117 Berlin
Germany
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.