Objective Tumours escape proper immune response by propagating immune suppression. Immunotherapy aims to enhance anti-tumour immunity. This highly relevant research area arose recently from advantages in immunology, genetics and oncology. Currently, immunotherapeutics are either protein (e.g. antibodies) or cell-based (e.g. cancer vaccines) and promising approaches target immune checkpoint control, a mechanism crucial for anti-tumour T cell activity.Here, development of a completely new class of immunotherapeutics based on advantageous oligonucleotides is proposed.To this aim, oligonucleotides will be designed to modulate expression of receptor genes involved in immune checkpoint control (e.g. PD-L1, CTLA4) and thus block tumour-mediated T cell inhibition. Of special interest will be the employment of the exon skipping technique to reduce surface receptor and potentially induce antagonistic soluble isoforms.To ensure delivery of oligonucleotides, liposomal or polycationic nanoparticles will be utilized as previous studies demonstrated good tissue bioavailability, e.g. for PTO-antisense RNA and polyethylenimine. Oligonucleotides will be tested for functionality, efficacy and non-toxicity in vitro. To facilitate practical clinical application of the developed drugs, most promising candidates will then be applied to pre-clinical tumour models in vivo. Charmingly, this novel technique will also be applied ex vivo to enhance anti-cancer cell therapy, thus evading systemic distribution.Collaboration of two world-renowned scientific institutions, the German Fraunhofer society and Canadian partner McMaster University, will ensure a prolific environment for successful project conclusion and allow considerable advancement of the career of a most promising European researcher. Furthermore, the project will support development of a key technology in the important field of cancer therapy, thus providing a significant competitive advantage for European interests in health research. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccinesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNAmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunotherapymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologies Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-GF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-GF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinator FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Net EU contribution € 243 352,80 Address Hansastrasse 27c 80686 Munchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. MCMASTER UNIVERSITY Canada Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1280 main st west L8S 4L8 Hamilton See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 157 622,40
