MELanoma GENetics - understanding and biomarking the genetic and immunological determinants of melanoma survival

Objective

MELGEN (MELanoma GENetics) – understanding and biomarking the genetic and immunological determinants of melanoma survival

The MELGEN European Training Network (ETN) will create an environment for long-term, collaborative, inter-sectorial cancer genetics research with the ultimate aim of improving precision (personalised) medicine. In a 2012 report the European Science Foundation identified the importance of precision medicine and recommended that there should be 1) provision of comprehensive, accessible and interoperable datasets 2) improved models and decision-making processes, 3) interdisciplinary, public-private partnerships and translational research, and 4) dedicated funding including access to core technology and frameworks for education and training of professionals. This application addresses all four recommendations and applies them to melanoma. Considerable, but insufficient, progress has been made in understanding the genetic changes within melanomas that drive tumour progression, and how those drivers can be targeted to treat melanoma. Melanoma is also an especially immunogenic cancer and much more needs to be understood of how melanomas suppress host immunological responses. Understanding what controls immunity in melanoma will be potentially applicable to other cancers. Finally, we need prognostic and predictive biomarkers for selection of precision therapy. This ETN will recruit 15 early stage researchers (ESRs) to address these issues. It will bring together leaders in clinical research, genomics, statistics, bioinformatics, and the biotech industry to exploit the new genomic tools and tumour immunology. MELGEN’s commercial partners are developing immunological tests (ImmunID), bioinformatics (Eagle Genomics), commercial genomics (ServiceXS) and digital design/communications (Digitronix) and they will underpin an innovative, interdisciplinary training programme for the next generation of melanoma researchers.

Field of science

• /medical and health sciences/health sciences/public and environmental health/epidemics prevention/immunisation
• /natural sciences/biological sciences/genetics and heredity
• /medical and health sciences/clinical medicine/cancer/skin cancer/melanoma

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3.1. - Fostering new skills by means of excellent initial training of researchers

Topic(s)

• MSCA-ITN-2014-ETN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN-ETN)

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-ITN-2014
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MSCA-ITN-ETN - European Training Networks

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

Address

Woodhouse Lane
LS2 9JT Leeds
United Kingdom

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 819 863,64

Participants (5)

UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM ESSEN

Germany

EU contribution

€ 747 649,44

Address

Hufelandstrasse 55
45147 Essen

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

LUNDS UNIVERSITET

Sweden

EU contribution

€ 790 977,96

Address

Paradisgatan 5C
22100 Lund

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 546 575,76

Address

The Gibbs Building, Euston Road 215
NW1 2BE London

Activity type

Research Organisations

ACADEMISCH ZIEKENHUIS LEIDEN

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 510 748,56

Address

Albinusdreef 2
2333 ZA Leiden

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

OSLO UNIVERSITETSSYKEHUS HF

Norway

EU contribution

€ 572 550,48

Address

Kirkeveien 166 Tarnbygget
0450 Oslo

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments