Objective
The immune system can patrol cell status by recognising epitopes bound to Human Leukocyte Antigen class I (HLA-I) molecules and triggering cytotoxic T cell (CTL) activation. Epitopes arrive at the cell surface through several steps of the antigen processing and presentation pathway (APP). Despite major discoveries in the past decades, the precise dynamics of APP are still not fully understood. These dynamics, however, determine the types and quantities of epitopes and therefore regulate the CTL response.
The objective of my project is the development of an APP model from gene transcription to recognition by CTL clones that captures the underlying APP mechanisms and dynamics. Current approaches are mainly machine learning-based and focus only on parts of the APP. They neglect the underlying APP dynamics and do not elucidate novel mechanisms. Therefore, they fail to predict epitopes under altered cellular states such as infection. My project overcomes this pitfall by complementing large scale machine learning approaches with mechanistic modelling to comprehensively understand the APP and enable successful epitope prediction.
To achieve this goal, I will:
1) develop an APP integrated computational description that combines a mechanistic model of the APP (based on detailed quantitative in vitro data) with a large-scale machine learning-based multi-omics model;
2) apply the model in two therapeutic-relevant cellular systems – Measles virus infection and chemotherapy-induced senescence – resulting in the educated identification of canonical and non-canonical epitopes.
This project is at the cutting edge of the research with direct application in epitope discovery for therapies such as anti-cancer immunotherapy, vaccination against infection and modulatory immunotherapies against autoimmune diseases. The implemented computational framework will be made available to the community thereby providing a direct benefit to European scientific public and private sectors.
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 immunotherapy
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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) ERC-2020-STG
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
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.