Project description
Molecular and hormonal insight into bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is among the most common malignancies in Europe, exhibiting low survival rates once metastasised. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving its progression and the observed gender disparities is crucial for developing targeted therapies. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DeMOBilise project will study the role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), known to impact development and bone formation. The work will focus on how BMPs interact with sex steroids to promote bone metastasis in bladder cancer. Using cutting-edge technologies such as genome editing and organ-on-a-chip, DeMOBilise will map signalling interactions in the bone microenvironment. Translation of these discoveries could lead to novel treatment approaches for bladder cancer.
Objective
Bladder cancer (BCa) is the 5th most common cancer in Europe, with an annual economic burden of €5 billion. Despite efforts aimed at early detection and targeted therapies, the development of metastatic BCa (5%) remains a major cause of mortality (patient survival rate of only 21 %). Recent evidence has strongly implicated a role of Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMPs) in BCa progression. However, their regulation remains poorly understood and their role in metastatic BCa remains to be elucidated. Moreover, there is paucity of understanding regarding the gender disparity in BCa, whereby men are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed, compared to women, who have worse prognosis.
DeMOBilise seeks to address this critical gap in the knowledge by investigating the synergistic role of sex steroids (SS) and BMPs in BCa bone metastasis. This will be achieved by using single cell multiomics and CRISPR gene editing, coupled with state-of-the-art Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology and spatially resolved imaging of the bone perivascular niche within the OoC. This study will thereby investigate, at an unprecedented level of detail, the functional role of BMP signalling and its synergy with SS in BCa metastatic processes.
I will spend 2 years at Columbia University (USA) expanding my skills in cancer models and single cell sequencing and also acquiring a new skillset in OoC fabrication. I will return to the University of Limerick (Ireland) and receive training in steroidogenesis, high-dimensional imaging and mass spectrometry. Additionally, I will have a 6-month Non-Academic Placement in the start-up company Hooke Bio, who specialize in the development and utilisation of high through-put microfluidic systems for 3D microtissue drug screening. I will be immersed within a multidisciplinary team with expertise in OoC fabrication, bone metastasis, and 3D cancer modelling that will support me in meeting my research/training objectives and prepare me for a career as an independent researcher.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies microtechnology organ on a chip
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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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.