Objective
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of ancient exogenous retroviruses that make up nearly 9% of the human genome. Though long dismissed as “junk” DNA, recent advances have revealed that thousands of HERV-derived open reading frames are actively expressed and translated in healthy human tissues and various pathologies. Aside from a few well-characterized examples, such as the placental syncytins, the biological functions of the vast majority of HERV-derived proteins are unknown. This project will focus on HERV-derived envelope proteins (HERV-Envs) because their ability to interact with receptors makes them strong candidates for functional co-option by the host. The overarching goal of this project is to systematically uncover novel physiological and pathological roles of a large panel of HERV-Envs. First, we will search for novel HERV-Env receptors and receptor-dependent activities using high-throughput viral pseudotyping, comparative transcriptomics, genome-wide CRISPR screens, and structure-based bioinformatic predictions. Next, we will investigate the cellular pathways modulated by HERV-Envs through state-of-the-art CRISPR-based genome editing and single-cell transcriptomics. We will then explore the antiviral potential of HERV-Envs by testing how they impact the entry and evolution of exogenous retroviruses using viral pseudotyping and experimental evolution. Finally, we will conduct the largest HERV-Env serological screening to date, measuring and comparing antibody responses to HERV-Envs in health and disease, and isolating anti-HERV-Env monoclonal antibodies with therapeutic potential. This project will deliver the first comprehensive functional characterization of HERV-Envs, which will challenge the prevailing view of endogenous retroviral envelopes as passive genomic relics of past viral infections and reveal their active roles in human physiology and disease.
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.
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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.
46010 Valencia
Spain
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.