Objective
"Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most lethal primary brain tumour, with a median survival of 15 months despite maximal treatment, unchanged in two decades. Over 95% of clinical trials have failed. The fundamental reason is cell fate plasticity: GBM cells switch between phenotypic states to evade any single therapy. No current approach addresses the regulatory machinery that permits this switching.
SafeCure will translate two discoveries from ERC Starting Grant SafeFate into a first-in-class gene therapy. The first is MYT1L, a neuronal transcription factor we identified as a ""safeguard repressor"" that locks GBM cells in a stable, low-plasticity state by suppressing alternative fate programmes. In orthotopic mouse models that faithfully recapitulate human GBM, MYT1L already extends survival significantly as monotherapy. To achieve safe, targeted re-expression of MYT1L exclusively in tumour cells, we developed a second innovation: 96 tumour-specific enhancers (TSEs) identified through our AI framework (scDORI), which drive gene expression in GBM cells while remaining silent in healthy brain. Delivered via adeno-associated virus (AAV) and combined with standard chemotherapy, this creates a ""lock-and-kill"" strategy: MYT1L locks cells in a vulnerable state; chemotherapy and radiotherapy kill them.
SafeCure comprises three goals: engineering and validation of AAV-TSE-MYT1L therapeutic constructs; preclinical proof-of-concept with survival, cell fate, and safety endpoints; IP strategy, regulatory pre-assessment, and industry engagement. Two patent families with established priority dates secure the core technology. The project will deliver an investor-ready preclinical package positioning SafeCure for translational funding and first-in-human translation."
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 medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
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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.
69120 Heidelberg
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.