Objective
"Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are increasingly implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis by genetic studies and functional evidence showing defective recognition and clearance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides. Inefficient microglial clearance of Aβ plaques leads to progressive accumulation, enhanced neuroinflammation, and neuronal loss. While current antibody therapies target Aβ, these interventions face significant safety concerns, limiting pharmacology. This ERC Proof of Concept proposal seeks to build on partial successes of anti-Aβ immunotherapy and introduces an innovative strategy that targets the amyloid cascade and cellular phase hypotheses of AD. I propose engineering transplantable human microglia with enhanced and selective ability to clear Aβ aggregates. Leveraging concepts from CAR-T cell therapy, these microglia will be equipped to express synthetic receptors, allowing precise temporal and spatial control of their therapeutic function. Recent advances in cell therapy for neurodegeneration highlight microglia’s potential as ""living drugs,"" capable of sustained and specific activity in the brain, representing a paradigm shift akin to oncological cell therapies. If successful, this ERC PoC will deliver the first proof-of-concept for engineered CAR-microglia as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease and generate the key preclinical data required to support patent protection and the creation of a microglia-based cell therapy platform for clinical translation. "
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 neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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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) ERC-2026-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.