Objective
The treatment of malignant brain tumors has seen little improvement in patient outcomes over the past twenty years due to the disease's highly treatment-resistant and heterogeneous nature. Based on an innovative concept, NEURO-GENE aims to develop a novel gene therapy for malignant brain tumors. The project proposes the groundbreaking hypothesis that a specific phospholipid induces partial cell fusion between tumor and normal brain cells, driving tumor growth, while also promoting the phagocytosis of tumor cells by macrophages, thereby fueling immunosuppression. For the first time, NEURO-GENE will integrate the fields of cancer neuroscience and immuno-oncology, building on the applicant’s previous discoveries and preliminary data. The project plans to develop an advanced therapeutic strategy using lentiviral gene delivery to inhibit this phospholipid, targeting the tumor directly while also addressing significant knowledge gaps regarding the molecular mechanisms that underlie the communication network between tumor cells and normal brain cells. NEURO-GENE will explore how this network influences tumor development, growth, and treatment resistance. The project envisions that inhibiting the phospholipid will trigger a systemic immune response by preventing the phagocytosis of dying tumor cells. This inhibition is expected to cause the release of tumor antigens into the tumor microenvironment. NEURO-GENE aims to uncover new molecular mechanisms of cell communication in the brain tumor microenvironment and to develop a gene therapy that will be delivered directly into the tumor, combining phospholipid inhibition with immune-activating strategies. If successful, this approach could offer a powerful new treatment option for one of the most challenging cancers, providing hope for improved outcomes by effectively disrupting cell communication between cancer cells and the microenvironment while also activating a systemic immune response.
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 neurobiology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- 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.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.
5020 Bergen
Norway
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.