Objective
Tumors are ecosystems, where malignant and non-malignant cells interact within an organized tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding how these interactions drive complex pathology such as metastasis and response to treatment is a major challenge in cancer biology. While spatial proteomics technologies have begun to reveal the architectural complexity of human tumors, current approaches are limited in scale, standardization, and functional interpretability. Existing platforms measure only dozens of proteins, analysis pipelines are fragmented, hindering cross-cohort integration, and functional studies rarely preserve the TME’s architecture.
This project addresses the question: what are the spatially organized intercellular networks that govern therapeutic response and resistance in human tumors. To answer it, it proposes three interconnected aims to develop new technologies to map such networks at scale, interrogate them using a common modeling framework and perform mechanistic studies to elucidate their function.
In Aim 1, we will develop KiloPlex, a novel spatial proteomics method to image 1000 proteins in intact human tumors using combinatorial staining and AI-based decomposition. We will apply KiloPlex to profile 1000 tumors from 10 cancer types, generating a comprehensive spatial proteomics atlas with unprecedented molecular resolution. In Aim 2, we will build an AI foundation model trained on this data and existing data to enable generalizable analysis of tissue organization and cell-cell interactions across cancer types. In Aim 3, we will couple spatial proteomics with ex vivo cultures to perturb and probe tumor-related immune populations and drug-targeted T cells, to understand their function in mediating response to checkpoint inhibitors.
Together, these aims will establish a new framework for spatially resolved, functional tumor profiling, opening the door to informed biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and precision immunotherapy strategies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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-2026-STG
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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.
7610001 Rehovot
Israel
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.