Leveraging functional genomics to reveal novel targets for cancer treatment

Di cosa tratta questo bando?

The call funds research and innovation projects that use functional genomics and multimodal patient data to identify and validate new targets for cancer therapy. Multidisciplinary consortia of researchers, clinicians and innovators are expected.

Cosa finanzia questo bando?

Scope

The topic contributes to the Cancer Mission objective of understanding cancer initiation and progression. Of particular interest are paediatric and adolescent cancers, cancers with limited treatment options, refractory and rare cancers, and cancers with low five-year survival. Proposals may include exploratory mechanistic studies with longitudinal patient samples, clinical proof-of-concept studies and observational or translational studies. Applicants are encouraged to use functional genomics and structural biology methods, such as single-cell studies, spatial transcriptomics, epigenetic profiling and liquid biopsies, together with computational modelling and AI.

Activities to address

• Identify and validate new therapeutic targets by developing experimental models and technologies to assess the effects of tumour heterogeneity over time on initiation, progression and relapse.
• Investigate how the tumour multi-omics profile, its microenvironment and patient-specific factors interact, including mechanisms of adaptive resistance to therapy.
• Integrate and analyse FAIR multimodal longitudinal patient data, make the digital assets available through the UNCAN.eu research platform and describe datasets in the European Health Data Space catalogue.

Collaboration

Proposals should involve relevant ESFRI life science research infrastructures, including biobanking, collaborate with the UNCAN-CONNECT project and join the Cancer Mission "Understanding" cluster, with budget for networking and joint activities.

Expected outcomes

• Better understanding of the functional effects of tumour heterogeneity, supporting more precise therapeutic targets.
• Improved knowledge and tools for developing genomically informed cancer treatments.
• Interoperable data and tools contributed to the UNCAN.eu platform.

Cosa ci si aspetta dalle proposte?

• Proposals should include an appropriate mix of stakeholders, such as medical doctors, health IT experts, researchers, AI experts, solution providers, academia, research institutes, EU research infrastructures and SMEs.

Quando scade il bando?

16 settembre 2027 (314 giorni)

21 September 2027 (single-stage)