Project description
Oncolytic viruses for glioblastoma immunotherapy
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are engineered viruses that selectively infect and destroy tumour cells while stimulating anti-cancer immune responses. They represent a promising immunotherapy strategy against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive brain cancer with limited treatment options. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the INTRABRAIN project proposes to combine OVs with nanoparticles to create scalable, off-the-shelf therapeutic vaccines. The OVs will be modified to express Interleukin-12 to reverse tumour-induced immunosuppression in the brain of animal GBM models. Researchers will use biodegradable nanomaterials to protect OVs from clearance and intranasal delivery to overcome the blood-brain barrier.
Objective
Immunotherapy is a potential key weapon in the fight against cancer, in general, and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), in particular. Still, a better understanding of how immunotherapy can be leveraged in GBM patients is direly needed. Disease complexity and blood-brain barrier impermeability mean that a standard vaccinology approach will not work. As part of a novel cancer management strategy, this project aims to create more efficacious vaccines using polymeric nanoparticles and self-assembled nanoplatforms in combination with modified oncolytic viruses. We will use biodegradable nanomaterials to protect the OV from body clearance and exploit the intranasal route for efficient delivery to the brain. We will incorporate the IL12 gene into a recombinant adenovirus vector backbone, which will stay under the nanoparticle protection until the drug reaches the tumour microenvironment and is released to reverse tumour-induced immunosuppression. This new strategy offers an efficient alternative to the current standard-of care - i.e. labour-intensive immunotherapy and possibly chemoradiation. The development of an off-the-shelf product, which provides additional anti-tumoral effects at different levels, would significantly prolong the life expectancy of GBM patients. This bioprocess would be scalable for production and compatible with Good Manufacturing Practices. The administration strategies, safety and efficacy of the anti-cancer agent will be validated in animal GBM models. The main training objective is to educate a strongly needed generation of interdisciplinary specialists in tight collaboration with large pharmacological industries, academia, and clinical centres. This will not only educate 14 outstanding early-stage researchers, but also greatly enhance their career perspectives through the unique opportunity to conduct transdisciplinary research and embark on a high-quality training in both academic and entrepreneurial industrial environments.
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.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
00014 Helsinki
Finland
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.