CHIRON
CHIRON is an MSCA-SE project funded by the European Commission with the main goal of better understanding how tumours avoid the immune system and make tumours sensitive again towards cell death.
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The focus hereby is on the non-canonical DR (death receptor) -signalling pathway, its role in tumour and immune cells, and novel strategies to modulate this pathway.
CHIRON brings together a consortium of nine academic and private sector (ANYO Labs, COVALABS, e-NIOS) partners in seven countries:
Dr. Aristotelis Chatziioannou (Athens, Greece),
Dr. Erika Balint (Budapest, Hungary),
Dr. Duygu Sag (Izmir, Turkey),
Dr. Eva Szegezdi (Galway, Ireland),
Dr. Leif Eriksson (Goteborg, Sweden),
Dr. Philippe Krebs (Bern, Switzerland),
Dr. Olivier Micheau (Dijon, France),
Dr. Said El Alaoui (Bron, France),
Dr. Gerhard Wingender (Project Coordinator; Izmir, Turkey).
The main aims of CHIRON are:
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(1) To develop novel small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) targeting cFLIP or TRADD to inhibit the non-canonical DR-signalling pathway. Utilizing advanced in silico modelling tools, based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), novel SMIs for two elements of the DR-signalling pathway (cFLIP, TRADD) will be predicted, synthesized, and tested for their in vitro efficacy.
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(2) To elucidate the DR4/DR5-interacting molecular partners. Two complementary proximity labelling techniques (APEX2-based and optoproteomic-based proximity after genetic-code expansion) will be used to identify the most proximal signalling partners of DR4 and DR5 in tumour and NK cells.
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(3) To delineate the role of the non-canonical DR-signalling pathway in immune cells and tumour types. Utilizing advanced genetic and cellular approaches, we will clarify the relevance of the DR-signalling pathway in various immune cells and tumour types.
For inquiries or additional information about CHIRON, please contact Dr. Wingender (<gerhard.wingender@ibg.edu.tr>).
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101130240. This communication material reflects only the authors’ view and the Research Executive Agency or the European Commission are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
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Project acronym and title: CHIRON - The role of the non-canonical death receptor signalling in cancer and immune cells
Call name: MSCA-2022-SE-01-01
Project number:
Project Coordinator: Dr. Gerhard Wingender (IBG; Izmir, Turkey).
Project period: 1.10.2023 - 30.9.2027
Cordis link: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101130240