Objective
Based on their antiviral and antitumor effect, type I interferons (IFNs) were believed to be the miracle drug to tackle viruses and cancer. However, clinical IFN applications remained limited due to severe side effects resulting from widespread cellular sensitivity to IFN, which limits the administrable doses. Hence, the drug concentration at the desired infection or tumor site is often too low to be fully therapeutic efficient. AcTaferon (Activated-by-Targeting interferon), co-developed by Prof. Uzé, circumvents these obstacles. By fusing an IFN mutant with strongly reduced receptor binding affinity to a targeting moiety that recognizes a surface marker on specific cells, AcTaferon remains inactive “en route” through the body and unveils its biological activity only on specific target cells. Robust tumor regression without side effects and preliminary antiviral effects underscore the huge clinical potential of AcTaferon to fight cancer and viral diseases. By combining the AcTaferon and influenza expertise of Prof. Uzé and Prof. Saelens, respectively, this interdisciplinary project offers the opportunity to broaden the innovative AcTaferon therapeutic strategy from the cancer to the viral infection field. Influenza A was selected as a pilot target as seasonal influenza A epidemics and occasional pandemics remain a serious health threat causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Influenza A-targeted AcTaferons will be developed and analyzed in relevant in vitro and in vivo models. Eventually, all knowledge will be transferred to Orionis, a company that will implement the AcTaferon technology to develop novel drugs. My background on the intracellular processes that negatively regulate cytokine receptors and hence influence the cellular sensitivity to a (therapeutic) cytokine is an asset to this project. I will be able to extend my fundamental research experience with applied cytokine research, which may extend into a new academic or industrial research pipeline.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health epidemiology pandemics
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases viral diseases RNA viruses influenza
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antivirals
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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-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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-2016
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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.
75794 Paris
France
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.