Objective
Malignant melanoma is a leading cause of cancer mortality among young Europeans, despite decades of prevention campaigns. This persistence indicates that factors beyond UVB-induced DNA damage contribute to risk. PhotoMel will reveal how early-life UVA exposure and skincare additives remodel the skin microenvironment to drive melanoma initiation and early spread.
Our overarching objectives are to i) prevent melanoma onset by decoding how chemical exposures modulate UVA-induced skin damage; ii) map multimodal patient biopsy data to resolve spatial tumour-microenvironment interactions; iii) transform mechanistic insights into predictive 3D computational models; iv) predict patient-specific metastatic risk through biomarker discovery; and v) engage citizens and patients to restore trust, guide regulation and strengthen prevention strategies.
We will integrate ex vivo skin models, mutational characterisation, extracellular matrix (ECM) biomechanics, spatial multiomics, advanced microscopy, CROP-seq functional genomics and multiscale computational modelling. Specifically, we will quantify UVA-chemical effects on skin cells and the ECM, define how altered microenvironments shape melanoma subpopulations, and integrate ECM, immune and tumour features into predictive models, delivering biomarker panels for exposure-driven metastatic risk stratification in young people. Patient cohorts and retrospective datasets will validate predictions and connect molecular and mechanical changes to outcomes.
By addressing how childhood and adolescent exposures shape cancer risk in young adults, PhotoMel directly advances the Mission Cancer goal of uncovering environmental determinants of cancer. Outcomes will deliver actionable biomarkers, interoperable datasets and predictive tools for clinicians and policy makers, informing prevention, supporting UNCAN.eu and PARC, and ultimately improving personalised prevention, prediction, quality of life and long-term outcomes for Europe’s youth.
This action is part of the Cancer Mission cluster of projects on “Understanding – environmental exposure in CAYA.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology skin cancer melanoma
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
HORIZON.2.1.2 - Environmental and Social Health Determinants
See all projects funded under this programme -
HORIZON.2.1.3 - Non-Communicable and Rare Diseases
See all projects funded under this programme
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-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-MISS-2025-02
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
1090 Wien
Austria
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.