Project description
Novel therapeutics for malfunctioning cellular 'sticky stuff' could be around the corner
Integrins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules that promote stable interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix. They are receptors that weakly bind extracellular matrix proteins, sort of like Velcro. However, their function is much more than mechanical – they are bidirectional signalling proteins, and their activities, modulation and roles are quite complex. The same integrin can have different ligand specificities in different cell types, and dysfunction of integrins is linked to numerous diseases. The EU-funded MIMIC project is conducting a comprehensive experimental and computational investigation of integrin signalling that will lead to a platform for the design of integrin inhibitors for therapeutic applications.
Objective
Multicellular life depends on the effective communication between cells and their surroundings. One of the primary conduits for cellular interactions is the membrane-embedded receptor family of integrins. Integrins are crucial for several key biological processes, from blood clotting, to proper immune response. Integrin misregulation is at the heart of several diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, MS, or cancer, and integrins are targeted by several viruses as entry points. Yet, our current drugs are not capable of efficiently combating these diseases, as we do not have sufficient molecular and network level knowledge of how integrins work.
The main research objective of MIMIC is to develop an original hybrid in silico/in vitro framework that allows the identification and characterization of unknown elements of integrin signaling. It will present the first such systematic large-scale effort, integrating computational modeling with state-of-the-art experimental techniques. MIMIC will provide the first structured description of integrin ligand specificity profiles, extending our current limited descriptions of extracellular integrin interactions. Thus, MIMIC will be the missing link between integrin research and recent advancements in linear motif research.
The developed framework will not only enable the identification of currently unknown integrin ligands, but will also lay the foundations for innovative approaches in the development of therapeutic agents for integrin-related diseases. Building on the developed experimentally verified computational models, I will construct a novel peptide-based inhibitor design pipeline. MIMIC will provide a structural basis for currently missing immune-specific interactions in atomic detail. I will use this knowledge to design the first immunomodulatory peptide-based integrin inhibitor, serving as a proof-of-concept for future therapeutic applications.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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-ST - Standard EF
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2018
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
69117 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.