Project description
Modelling brain damage with organ-on-chip technology
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumour in children. While survival rates have improved, treatment with radiation and chemotherapy frequently causes lasting damage to the developing brain, impairing cognition and quality of life. It remains poorly understood which brain regions are most vulnerable and why. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SCOPE project will develop a human stem cell-derived organoid-on-a-chip platform that models the developing brain and spinal cord in a microfluidic device. By exposing this system to cancer therapies and analysing molecular changes using spatial proteomics and AI, researchers will map treatment-induced neurotoxicity. The goal is to identify molecular pathways underlying cognitive dysfunction in paediatric brain cancer survivors.
Objective
SCOPE (Spatially structured Chip-based cOgnition Platform for molecular mapping and thErapy-induced neurocognitive dysfunction modelling in pediatric medulloblastoma) aims to create a human-relevant organoid-on-a-chip system to study how craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy disrupt neurodevelopment and cognitive function in childhood Group 3 medulloblastoma. Its central objective is to model brain region-specific vulnerabilities to therapy and identify molecular pathways underlying treatment-induced neurotoxicity.
The project will integrate induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-derived cerebellar and 3-dimensional bioprinted spinal organoids with tumor spheroids in microfluidic chips engineered for precise spatial and temporal control. This platform will enable real-time mapping of therapy-induced cellular and molecular alterations across cognitive circuits. Spatial proteomic analysis through advanced multiplex imaging will reveal protein-level signatures of neurodevelopmental disruption, while Artificial Intelligence-driven analysis will model spatiotemporal patterns of injury and predict long-term impact on cognition. The combined approach of organoid biology, chip engineering, and computational modeling will generate a multidimensional understanding of therapy-driven changes.
SCOPE is fully aligned with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) work program by tackling the urgent challenge of protecting neurocognitive health in pediatric cancer survivors. It will train the fellow in organoid culture, microfluidics, proteomics, imaging, and AI-based systems biology, providing strong interdisciplinary expertise. Beyond advancing mechanistic insights, SCOPE establishes a developmentally relevant preclinical platform that strengthens EU research capacity, supports translational innovation in pediatric oncology, and contributes to reducing treatment-related disability in children surviving brain cancer.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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)
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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.
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
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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.
- Limerick
Ireland
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.