Objective
The STEMPhage project at TU Dresden aims to develop a pioneering macrophage-based therapy for the treatment of solid tumors. Solid tumors account for 90% of all cancers and remain largely inaccessible to current cell therapies, as T cells, for example, often fail to effectively infiltrate them. Macrophages, by contrast, are innate immune cells that are naturally recruited into tumors, where they can not only destroy tumor cells directly but also activate other immune cells to mount a coordinated anti-tumor response. Until now, however, the clinical application of macrophages has been limited by their rapid loss of activity, inability to expand in culture, and susceptibility to immunosuppressive signals within the tumor microenvironment. Through decades of research led by Humboldt Professor Michael Sieweke, the STEMPhage team has overcome these barriers. By reactivating intrinsic self-renewal mechanisms, the team has generated so-called xMACx macrophages that can be robustly expanded in culture and retain potent anti-tumor activity in immunosuppressive tumor environments. The potential to produced large quantities of macrophages makes them available as an off-the-shelf therapy with stable and durable anti-tumor effects. This breakthrough has the potential to fundamentally transform cancer treatment. Within the project, GMP-compliant production of xMACx will be established, their mechanisms of action elucidated, and standardized efficacy assays developed. In parallel, the team will create the business structures and financial foundations for a spin-off to translate this technology towards clinical application and attract strategic investment. The EIC funding will secure STEMPhage’s technological lead and laying the groundwork for a radically new, innovative cancer therapy of major societal and economic impact.
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 clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies
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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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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-EIC - HORIZON EIC 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) HORIZON-EIC-2025-TRANSITIONOPEN
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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.
01069 DRESDEN
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.