Description du projet
Un réseau de formation réussi se penche sur de nouvelles cibles pour le traitement contre le cancer
Les protéines sont omniprésentes, mais elles ne sont pas toutes créées de la même manière. Les récepteurs couplés aux protéines G (RCPG) sont les protéines les plus importantes et les plus diverses du génome mammifère. Il s’agit d’une classe de protéines transmembranaires qui transforment des stimuli ou des messagers extracellulaires en des signaux intracellulaires grâce à l’interaction entre leurs domaines intracellulaires et les protéines G. Les récepteurs aux chimiokines CXCR4 et ACKR3 sont des RCPG qui se lient à la chimiokine CXCL12 et ont été impliqués dans le cancer et des maladies auto-immunes et inflammatoires. Ils représentent une cible importante de nombreux efforts en matière de découverte de médicaments, toutefois leurs mécanismes et rôles exacts restent obscurs. L’initiative ONCORENET2.0 entend découvrir davantage de cibles pour mettre en place de nouveaux traitements avec l’aide de 15 chercheurs en début de carrière et de récents travaux de pointe dans le domaine des RCPG.
Objectif
Cancer is a major health burden responsible for 20% of European deaths. There is a critical need to understand its fundamental biological mechanisms. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface proteins which play an important role in regulating cellular functions integral to cancer biology and, as highly druggable proteins, oncogenic GPCRs are important therapeutic targets. ONCORNET2.0 builds on the success of ONCORNET (Oncogenic GPCR Network of Excellence and Training), a first-in-kind ETN in GPCR drug discovery that has successfully delivered scientific advance and training to talented early stage researchers (ESRs). ONCORNET2.0 will incorporate recent scientific and technological advances to understand and target two oncogenic GPCRs; the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and ACKR3. These are highly expressed in multiple tumours but their role in cancer progression remains poorly understood. We will develop new strategies for CXCR4/ACKR3 modulation (photochemistry, nanobodies) and investigate their effects on oncogenic responses, to yield key new knowledge and potential leads for drug development and commercialisation. ONCORNET2.0 will bring together the leading GPCR research groups in Europe and 15 ESRs. By leveraging on the success and experience of ONCORNET and recent ground-breaking advances in the field of GPCRs (e.g. cryo-EM, CRISPR-Cas, advanced microscopy), ONCORNET2.0 brings a young, gender-balanced team of PIs to target oncogenic GPCRs. The consortium will offer an extensive multidisciplinary training programme for ESRs ensuring their successful incorporation in today’s fast-moving drug development programmes. This programme integrates both research and transferable skill sets through blended learning. Our aim is that, through training these ESRs with interdisciplinary and intersectoral exposure, we will develop the next generation of scientists with skills that are in high demand by the drug development industries but rarely offered academically.
Champ scientifique
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discovery
- natural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistryphotochemistry
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopy
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinateur
1081 HV Amsterdam
Pays-Bas