Objective
Immunotherapy is expected to fundamentally change the treatment of cancer patients. Personalized vaccines eliciting
immune responses against individual cancer mutations have moved into the spotlight. We have pioneered the field and
moved ´cancer mutanome vaccines´ from a mere vision into a disruptive medical concept compatible with current
standards of drug development and health care practice. Solving key scientific and technological challenges and building
on extensive preclinical studies, we showed in a first-in-human trial potent tumor-directed immunity in every single
vaccinated patient, and clinical activity of a novel mRNA-based mutanome vaccine. Given that mutations are a hallmark
of cancer, mRNA mutanome vaccines are universal drugs the efficacy of which are unaffected by the cancer type. The
aim of this proposal is to ignite the next wave of advancement by addressing four key constraints challenging a full clinical
realization of such vaccines. We will address the scarcity of point mutations in many tumors by extending neoepitope
discovery to the full spectrum of genetic aberrations. Cancers are heterogeneous and outgrowth of clones unaccounted
for by the vaccine is an efficient escape mechanism. We will develop neoepitope prediction algorithms deciphering clonal
heterogeneity to inform rational vaccine design and countermeasures against selection of target escape variants. Tumor
cell resistance to vaccine-induced T cells due to antigen presentation defects will be addressed by developing strategies
for mobilizing the full repertoire of immune effector mechanisms, including antibodies and NK cells. T-cell exhaustion will
be tackled by vaccination protocols promoting long-lived memory responses and by combination treatments counteracting
tumor-mediated immunosuppression. Finally, we will drive the seamless clinical translation of the scientific findings by
close interdisciplinary collaboration with strong and established clinical and industrial partners.
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 basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - 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.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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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-2017-ADG
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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.
55131 Mainz
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.