Objective
The challenge for cancer therapy involves hampering the mechanisms by which the normal gene expression machinery is taken over to allow the aberrant appearance of cancer driving genes. I propose exploiting the therapeutic potential of a special class of tumor microRNAs (miRs) that function as natural post-transcriptional tumor suppressive regulators of many genes in key pathways. These anti-cancer effectors represent an inherent organismal property that I propose to augment and thereby translate into a form of systemic anti-cancer therapy. First, focusing on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), I shall perform high throughput screening to identify preferred HCC tumor suppressive miRs. Second, I shall search for small molecules capable of elevating the level of those relevant miRs in tumor cells and tissues. Increasing miR expression will potentially also enhance their secretion into the circulation in exosomes thereby suppressing gene expression at remote tissue sites as well. Third, I shall test the potential of these miRs to better target and inhibit the growth of tumor cells both, in culture and in vivo. This unprecedented conceptual strategy should stimulate the organism’s self-healing potential by enhancing inherent anti-tumor mechanisms. This project is built on robust preliminary findings that show promiscuous anti-cancer effects and predictably fewer side effects due to its completely host-based nature, with the administered miR inducer being the only foreign element. Additionally, due to the fact that each miR simultaneously targets a number of molecular pathways as well as multiple steps within a given pathway, it could help to overcome the major problem of cancer therapy – resistance. This strategy of harnessing these efficient and robust miRs and exosomes for delivery of anti-cancer therapeutics may overcome the high-risk challenge involved and enable high gain value.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - 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.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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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-2017-ADG
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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.
91904 JERUSALEM
Israel
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.