Objective
This proposal aims to validate artificial intelligence (AI)-designed minibinders and blockers of the growth factor Midkine (MDK) as anticancer agents to bypass resistance to current immunotherapies. The rationale stems from reports by our laboratory in Nature, Nature Medicine, EMBO Mol Reports and Nature Cancer describing pro-metastatic and immunosuppressive functions of MDK in melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. In particular, our work identified MDK as a driver of the “hot-into-cold” switch that underlies immune evasion and resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. We have also described immunomodulatory roles of MDK in gliomas, lung adenocarcinomas and kidney renal carcinomas, among others. These data are backed by an increasing number of independent studies reporting a broad spectrum of protumorigenic functions of MDK in diverse hematological and solid cancers. Indeed, MDK has been actively pursued as a ther This proposal focuses on the characterization and preclinical validation of artificial intelligence (AI)-designed minibinders that target Midkine (MDK), a protein that is overexpressed in multiple cancers, including melanoma. We have previously demonstrated that MDK plays a critical role in metastasis, immune suppression, and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), with analyses of preclininical drug testing backed by publications in Nature and Nature Medicine. We have identified 40 mini-binders and selected a subset with different structural features for further validation. These mini-binders will be validated in preclinical models to assess their potential as new therapeutics for MDK-driven cancers. The project aims to provide a novel therapeutic strategy to restore immune competency in immune-resistant tumors, particularly melanoma, with broader applications for other cancers. The proposal involves also a patentability study and analysis of market assessment for potential development of the intellectual property to be generated.
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 clinical medicine oncology prostate cancer
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology skin cancer
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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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.
28029 Madrid
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.