Project description
Boosting T cell immunotherapy
T cells are key immune cells capable of detecting foreign threats and coordinating immune responses. This makes them central to cancer immunotherapy. Low-affinity CD8+ T cells are particularly valuable for long-lasting immune memory but expanding them effectively remains challenging. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SupraCODE project will explore polymer scaffolds to present tumour-associated antigens in controlled arrangements, enhancing activation and proliferation of these cells. By designing water-soluble copolymers with tunable size, spacing and peptide sequences, researchers aim to optimise antigen display and T cell stimulation. These polymers will serve as a new materials platform and find application in biology and medicine beyond immunotherapy.
Objective
Nature uses a complex chemical language between cells and their environment to sustain life. T-cells, critical players of the immune system, constantly communicate and respond to environmental signals through cell-fate decisions to protect against pathogens. Their function in the immune system is of particular interest for cancer immunotherapy where their activation and expansion can be harnessed to kill cancer cells. Low affinity CD 8+ T-cells are attractive because of their memory to prolong the duration of therapy, but they are challenging to expand unlike their high affinity counterparts. In this proposal, I will explore the multimerization of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) through the H2-Kb-OVA peptide complex on supramolecular polymer scaffolds to potentiate the activation and expansion of low-affinity CD8+ T-cells. I will develop monomers that undergo kinetically controlled supramolecular polymerization in water and explore the potential to prepare block copolymers by modulating the monomer design with respect to hydrogen bonding and hydrophobicity. Supramolecular block copolymers will be engineered with domains of distinct sizes at the nanoscale to enable control over the TAA presentation with respect to spacing and density. Additionally, the effect of modulating OVA peptide sequence Using a library of H2-Kb-OVA peptide complex outfitted supramolecular block copolymers with various peptide sequences I will map the potential for activation and expansion of low affinity CD 8+ T-cells. Importantly, the major aim of this proposal is to develop strategies to prepare supramolecular block copolymers in water with bioactive units to broaden the application space of this materials class in the biological field.
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 biochemistry biomolecules
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- 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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European 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.
2311 EZ Leiden
Netherlands
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.