TagTIC · Target mining for the development of therapeutics against pathogen-induced cancers

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.

Project objective

Gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric and colorectal cancer, are among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide. Growing evidence highlights the microbial agents Fusobacterium nucleatum, Helicobacter pylori, or Epstein-Barr Virus as prominent key drivers of cancer initiation and progression by disrupting epithelial signaling, promoting chronic inflammation, and evading immune surveillance. However, current therapeutic strategies and model systems rarely address pathogenic tumorigenesis or progression and altered drug efficacy in the presence of these pathogens, leaving a critical gap in the development of precise and preventive treatments.TagTIC addresses this challenge through a systems medicine approach that integrates microbiology, cancer biology, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence. By using innovative preclinical organoid model systems that closely resemble patient conditions, TagTIC aims to decipher complex host-pathogen interactions at single-cell and spatial resolution and to address them therapeutically. Research will focus on: (i) identifying vulnerable molecular nodes involved in pathogen-associated cancers; (ii) developing novel strategies for lead discovery and treatment; (iii) generating and analyzing innovative ex vivo models using 2D/3D cultures, patient-derived organoids, and organ-on-chip technologies. The network will train eleven Doctoral Candidates (DCs) towards translational leaders, capable of analyzing and solving complex biomedical needs with innovative strategies and approaches. DCs will follow a structured training program combining basic and translational science with cross-sectoral exposure to academia and industry. The collaboration between nine beneficiaries and 14 associated partners ensures a strong curriculum, interdisciplinary mentorship, and international mobility to empower DCs for careers in academia, biotech, pharma, and socio-economic sectors across Europe.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• PARIS-LODRON-UNIVERSITAT SALZBURG · SalzburgCoordinatorAustria
• AARHUS UNIVERSITET · Aarhus CDenmark
• ABBERIOR INSTRUMENTS GMBH · GottingenGermany
• Cobiomic Bioscience SL · CordobaSpain
• DEUTSCHES KREBSFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM HEIDELBERG · HeidelbergGermany
• DeepMirror Ltd · CambridgeCity levelUnited Kingdom
• Evident Europe GmbH - Headquarter EMEA - Germany · HamburgCity levelGermany
• G2L Services Limited · etobicokeCity levelCanada
• GEMEINNUTZIGE SALZBURGER LANDESKLINIKEN BETRIEBSGESELLSCHAFT · SalzburgAustria
• HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM MUENCHEN DEUTSCHES FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM FUER GESUNDHEIT UND UMWELT GMBH · NeuherbergGermany
• IMMUNOTOOLS GMBH · FriesoytheGermany
• INVIGATE GmbH · JenaCity levelGermany
• Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. · Rockville, MDCountry levelUnited States
• Molecular Devices (Austria) GmbH · Urstein bei HalleinAustria
• MyxoTech GmbH · SaarbrueckenCity levelGermany
• RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG · HeidelbergGermany
• SCIENSEED SL · MADRIDSpain
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN · MuenchenGermany
• TISSUEGNOSTICS GMBH · WienAustria
• UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID · MadridSpain
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA · RomaItaly
• UNIVERSITAT DES SAARLANDES · SaarbruckenGermany
• UNIWERSYTET GDANSKI · GDANSKPoland

Links

• View on CORDIS
• DOI: 10.3030/101311627