Objective
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. While immunotherapies have revolutionised care for a small subset of patients, the vast majority remain resistant due to immunologically “cold” tumours and the lack of effective delivery systems for RNA therapies. ION-CANDEL addresses this urgent unmet need through a first-in-class precision platform that combines novel targets, advanced nanomedicine, and immune modulation into a single therapeutic strategy.
The project will map and validate CRC-enriched ion channel variants as unique molecular “fingerprints” using single-cell and long-read sequencing supported by proteomics. These variants will serve as precision “locks” for engineering short peptide–decorated, thermo-responsive lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The platform will then be armed with a combinatorial RNA cargo—a pro-apoptotic mRNA and an anti-PD-L1 siRNA—to trigger tumour cell death and restore immune activity. Preclinical validation in 2D/3D cultures and mouse models will establish tumour targeting, safety, and therapeutic efficacy.
ION-CANDEL is directly aligned with the MSCA work programme: it advances frontier science through an interdisciplinary workflow, provides the researcher fellow with cutting-edge training in nanomedicine and immuno-oncology, and generates open-access resources, reproducible workflows, and exploitable intellectual property. By uniting discovery with translational application, it strengthens Europe’s leadership in RNA/LNP therapeutics and supports the researcher fellow’s path towards independence as a translational oncology group leader.
Through scientific excellence, societal relevance, and economic potential, ION-CANDEL promises to transform precision oncology for CRC patients while consolidating the fellow’s career and Europe’s capacity to innovate in next-generation RNA therapies.
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
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology nanomedicine
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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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.
69120 Heidelberg
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.