Project description
Pioneering diagnostic kit measures levels of novel cancer biomarker
Blood tests are universally accepted ways to measure the levels of certain blood constituents; test results are compared to the range of physiological values for each measure. While most of us take these 'healthy' values for granted, determining their range calls for significant scientific studies that will evaluate the correlation between various levels and conditions. The EU-funded M6AQuantKit project has developed the MAZTER-seq kit to quantify the level of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), a modified form of adenosine whose faulty regulation is connected to human cancers. The kit, which contains a data analysis tool, will be able to analyse multiple samples from small amounts of sample materials. Its use for studying and monitoring patient samples in academic research and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and clinical applications should foster development of novel cancer diagnostics and targeted cancer therapies.
Objective
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) plays fundamental roles in regulation of metabolism, stem cell self-renewal, and metastasis. Consistently its dysregulation is implicated in a variety of human cancers including leukemia, glioblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Consequently, the potential of m6A both as a novel cancer diagnostic and as a drug target has raised immense interest in scientific community and industry. For unravelling m6A functions, for the development of therapeutics and for prioritizing diseases and disease states most likely to benefit from therapeutic targeting of the methylation complex, it is thus of crucial importance to be able to measure the levels at which m6A is present. In our ERC project we addressed this challenge and developed MAZTER-seq, a methodology for quantifying m6A levels relying on a methylation-sensitive ribonuclease (RNase), representing the first systematic approach for quantitative interrogating of m6A levels.
The goal of the project is to advance our approach as commercializable kit for quantitative profiling of m6A. In the PoC, we will develop multiplexed protocol of MAZTER-seq that allows the simultaneous processing and interrogation of multiple samples from low amounts of sample material. The kit, coupled with streamlined data analysis tool, addresses a major market need and exhibits significant added value for academic labs and the biotech & pharma industries targeting the methylation machinery, e.g. for creating novel RNA based therapeutics. Our readout from low-input material makes m6A monitoring amenable to patient samples, representing an unmet challenge across all our target market. Thus, our goal is to create a startup which harnesses the vast market potential. In the PoC, the commercialization considerations are advanced through actions such as, seeking market feedback, strengthening the IP position, defining the business strategy and planning business execution.
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 computer and information sciences data science
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology leukemia
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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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.
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum Pilot
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) ERC-2019-PoC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
7610001 Rehovot
Israel
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.