Objective
Kidney cancer is among the ten most prevalent cancers arising in Western countries, with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) being the most frequent subtype (75%). About 30% of ccRCC patients present with metastatic disease at diagnosis, and another 30% will develop metastases after surgery. When metastatic, ccRCC remains largely incurable.
I recently discovered that the tumor suppressor BAP1 (BRCA1-associated protein 1) is inactivated in 15% of ccRCCs (Peña-Llopis et al. Nat. Genet. 2012). Notably, I found that mutations in BAP1 are mutually exclusive with mutations of the tumor suppressor gene PBRM1, and loss of BAP1 was associated with higher tumor grade, activation of mTORC1, and poorer overall patient survival, whereas tumors with PBRM1 loss were associated with lower tumor grade and better overall survival. This first molecular genetic classification of ccRCC may have tangible clinical implications, since tumors with BAP1 loss display in general more aggressive pathological features and are more prone to metastasize. However, the molecular mechanism through which BAP1 loss induces metastasis and tumor aggressiveness remains elusive.
In this study, I aim to investigate the molecular mechanism of repression of a miRNA cluster involved in metastasis by BAP1 and identify therapeutic opportunities. Specifically, I will (1) supervise a PhD student (supported by a grant I was recently been awarded) in the identification and characterization of the BAP1 protein complex that binds at the miRNA cluster promoter; and (2) I will uncover the genetic vulnerabilities of BAP1 loss by a synthetic lethality strategy. These studies will facilitate attainment of my long term career goal to become a group leader and a fully independent investigator.
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 surgery
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017
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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.