Objective
To strengthen Europe’s biodefence preparedness and responsiveness to epidemic and deliberate threats, the IMPACT project will develop the first antibody-based countermeasure for orthopoxviruses, targeting both variola major virus (VARV) and monkeypox virus (MPXV) with a single antibody. The project brings together a consortium of leading European institutions, many belonging to the European Vaccine Hub (EVH) network, with proven expertise in monoclonal antibody (mAb) discovery, structural biology, computational modelling, immunology, virology, pre-clinical models, GMP manufacturing, regulatory science, and clinical trial execution. The broadly neutralizing mAbs proposed target OPG153 (MPXV A28), a recently discovered conserved antigen, representing a breakthrough in orthopoxvirus countermeasures. These mAbs combine nanogram-per-millilitre potency, dual neutralisation of mature and extracellular virions, and cross-neutralisation across MPXV clades and vaccinia virus, with cross-reactivity to cowpox and VARV orthologues in a single molecule. We will use AI-driven optimization of mAbs to enhance functional activities and protein engineering to extend half-life. Selected candidates will then be tested in pre-clinical murine and non-human primate models to evaluate prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy against different orthopoxviruses. The most promising candidate will subsequently be manufactured under GMP conditions and assessed in a phase I clinical trial. In parallel, analyses of more than 1,800 sera from infected and vaccinated individuals will be performed to characterise the response to OPG153 and possibly identify correlates of protection, providing a critical foundation for regulatory approval. By combining world-class science with European strategic infrastructures, IMPACT will deliver not only a deployable first-in-class therapeutic but also a decisive biodefence tool, reinforcing Europe’s leadership and resilience against epidemic and biothreat pathogens.
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 zoology mammalogy primatology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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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.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.1.1 - Health throughout the Life Course
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HORIZON.2.1.5 - Tools, Technologies and Digital Solutions for Health and Care, including personalised medicine
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HORIZON.2.1.4 - Infectious Diseases, including poverty-related and neglected diseases
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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-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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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-HLTH-2025-01
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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.
53100 Siena
Italy
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.