Objective
T cell diversification during immune responses to infections or vaccines is key for combating an infection and the concomitant establishment of immune memory. This diversification is established phenotypically, functionally, transcriptionally and epigenetically. The ability of a cell to generate progeny with diverse fates is a general feature of stem cells and, as such, naïve as well as memory T cells have stem cell characteristics. At the core of this proposal is the key question of how - mechanistically - a naïve or memory mouse or human T cell generates progeny with different fates. We will address this key question from two complementary but also interconnected angles: First, we will investigate the role of established heterogeneity within the pool of naive CD8 T cells before activation. We recently uncovered cellular morphology coupled to distinct TCR signalling strength as a novel aspect of heterogeneity within naïve human and mouse T cells and could link this phenotype to differential fate adoption of their progeny after activation. We will now investigate this novel aspect of naïve T cell heterogeneity to unravel the mechanisms that instil and maintain these morphological differences in naïve T cells and how these differences confer altered TCR stimulation responsiveness. Second, we will study the mechanisms employed by CD8 T cells to generate diversity in response to antigen recognition and how these are interconnected to preceding naïve T cell heterogeneity. We will specifically interrogate the role and mechanism of asymmetric cell division (ACD) in T cell fate diversification upon TCR-mediated activation. These anticipated novel insights into T cell diversification mechanisms will not only deepen our knowledge of a fundamental biological process but will enable us to guide naive T cells in a tailored manner along their “T cell ROAD” - to improve T cell-based immunotherapeutic modalities for longer-lasting effects.
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 basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.