Project description
Studying the mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus-associated cancer
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is responsible for around 200 000 new cancer cases annually. A potentially effective way to treat people with EBV-associated cancers is with small-molecule inhibitors targeting viral proteins. However, no such drugs exist. Recent scientific data suggest that the EBV-encoded BILF1, a constitutively active G-protein coupled receptor, could further the development of anti-viral drugs to treat EBV-related tumours. The EU-funded VirGO project aims to explore the role of BILF1 in germinal centre B-cell transformation and identify how BILF1 contributes to the established phenotype of Burkitt lymphoma cells. It will also link these phenotypes to primary tumour pathological features and to patient response to therapy. The project will provide further insight into EBV-mediated oncogenesis mechanisms.
Objective
The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is widespread in all human communities. While most people carry EBV as a life-long asymptomatic infection, in some people, EBV contributes to malignant transformation and is responsible for ~200,000 new cancer cases/year. Small molecule inhibitors targeting viral proteins could be an effective option to treat people with EBV-associated cancers. However, no such drugs exists which in part reflects the limited repertoire of targetable virus proteins present in EBV-driven cancers. Recently, the Experienced Researcher (ER) has shown that the tumour cells of EBV-associated cancers such as Burkitt lymphoma (BL), express the EBV-encoded BILF1, a constitutively active G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Furthermore, preliminary data by the ER indicate that BILF1 partially recapitulates the aberrant transcriptional programme of BL and is likely to do so through activation of oncogenic cell signalling pathways that include AKT-mTOR. These data suggest that BILF1 could be a realistic therapeutic target, raising the possibility of advancing the development of anti-viral drugs to treat EBV-related tumours; GPCRs are the most successful class of drug target for the treatment of human disorders and are emerging as anti-cancer targets. In this project the ER will harness new models of B cell lymphomagenesis available in the host laboratory to: 1) Explore the role of BILF1in the transformation of germinal centre B cells; the progenitors of BL; 2) Identify how BILF1 contributes to the established phenotype of BL cells; and 3) Link these phenotypes to pathological features of the primary tumour and to patient response to therapy. Thus, the Fellowship will significantly advance knowledge of the mechanisms of EBV-mediated oncogenesis, in turn paving the way for the development of new EBV-targeted small molecule drugs. The ER will emerge from this project with a new advanced skill-set and the capability to launch her own high level scientific research.
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 cell biology cell signaling
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antivirals
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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.1.3. - 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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2019
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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.
- Limerick
Ireland
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.