Objective
The most potent human antibodies – those secreted by plasma cells of elite responders – remain invisible to conventional single-cell BCR sequencing (scBCR-seq) and are therefore inaccessible for therapeutic discovery. Frontier research in REVAMP (ERC AdG 101141457) has pioneered a breakthrough protein-centric discovery platform, AbDirect, that directly sequences these genuine in vivo-matured antibodies from smallvolume biofluids. It captures the active molecules themselves, with preselection before sequencing, and delivers human-validated leads missed by genomics-based methods, opening superior therapeutic possibilities.
Preliminary REVAMP results already demonstrate the platform’s power, identifying potent neutralizers from COVID-19 plasma that scBCR-seq entirely missed. Yet, critical bottlenecks in scalability and real-world validation remain. In this PoC project, we will derisk AbDirect-HT (High-Throughput) for commercial valorization by addressing these gaps. We will:
1. Explore and prototype the integration and automation of current laborious data processing pipelines to achieve >3-fold higher throughput and reach minimal commercially viable levels.
2. Validate broader applicability on promising sera (e.g. influenza, cancer, or autoimmunity), generating antibody leads that demonstrate the concept's superior promise for therapeutic discovery.
3. Develop a preliminary business plan by exploring IPR and knowledge transfer, market assessment & dissemination (including hybrid CRO-to-pipeline models) and targeted biopharma outreach.
This PoC project will derisk serological antibody discovery for commercial application by enabling standalone high-throughput sequencing of secreted antibodies, directly from small-volume biofluids. It would unlock genuine, in vivo-matured repertoires for broad-ranging therapeutic development programs, facilitating a future commercial launch through an EIC Transition to access the €250 billion antibody therapeutics market.
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 industrial relations automation
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses influenza
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
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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-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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-POC
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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.
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands
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.