Objective
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease marked by persistent mucosal inflammation and impaired gut barrier function. Its etiology remains partly unknown, and no definitive cure exists. While UC has been linked to gut microbiome (GM) alterations, its precise involvement remains unclear. Most research has focused on luminal bacteria, whereas emerging evidence suggests that the mucosal GM (mGM) may play a more critical role. In addition, phages, viruses that infect bacteria, may influence human health by reshaping bacterial communities and by directly stimulating the immune system through yet undefined mechanisms. The inflammatory potential of mucosal bacteria and phages in UC, however, remains unexplored.
This project will apply a multidisciplinary strategy to characterize the mGM–immune interface in UC at the mucosal level. Using datasets, infrastructure, and expertise from the host institution, secondment, and non-academic placement, GM DNA and human RNA will be sequenced from mucosal biopsies to profile the mGM and local immune activation. These datasets will be integrated to identify microbial features with inflammatory potential. Candidate phage immunogenicity will be validated in vitro and ex vivo. Alterations in microbial inflammatory signatures after faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a promising UC therapy, will be linked to clinical outcomes to assess FMT’s therapeutic potential. Finally, predictive modelling will identify stool-based biomarkers of mGM composition and inflammation.
By capitalizing on unique patient samples, state-of-the-art methods, and multidisciplinary expertise, this project will clarify the inflammatory potential of phages, provide new insights into UC etiology, and advance microbiome research by linking stool biomarkers to mucosal microbial–immune interactions, ultimately supporting the development of non-invasive tools for disease monitoring and detection.
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 bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
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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)
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-2025-PF
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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.
1081 HV Amsterdam
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.