Objective
Immune-inflammatory diseases arise when the balance between stimulatory and inhibitory checkpoint signals is disrupted, causing excessive immune responses and ultimately breaking immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. Current therapies either broadly suppress the immune system or block stimulatory checkpoints, but none exploit the activity of inhibitory checkpoints as a mechanism built by nature to restore immune homeostasis. This leaves a clear therapeutic gap, and an opportunity to locally control immune responses while avoiding systemic immunosuppression.
Within my ERC-2023-ADG, we discovered VHH-based positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that activate different inhibitory checkpoints rather than blocking them. These PAMs stabilize the native receptor–ligand interaction in vitro and stimulate intracellular signalling with, as a unique feature, ligand dependent and spatio temporal precision. An in vivo proof-of-concept is essential to bridge the translational gap towards their therapeutic application.
To consolidate our PAMs as a new modality for restoring immune checkpoint signalling in immune inflammatory diseases, we will (i) confirm target engagement by PAMs ex vivo using human samples; (ii) deliver in vivo proof of mechanism for inhibitory immune checkpoint PAMs in a Graft-versus-Host-Disease mouse model and (iii) evaluate further developed PAM formats to enhance the impact of the therapeutic effects.
These PoC data will provide the momentum needed to launch Allosteris -our next spin-off in the field of allosteric immunotherapies- by strengthening our IP, derisking the technology, and expanding partnering opportunities. In essence, this ERC PoC grant will sharpen Allosteris’ unique value proposition by advancing a therapeutic strategy that restores inhibitory immune signalling rather than applying blanket immunosuppression, paving the way for safer, precision treatments for immune-inflammatory diseases.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology cell signaling
- medical and health sciences health sciences inflammatory diseases
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
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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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.