Project acronym 3D-COUNT
Project 3D-Integrated single photon detector
Researcher (PI) Fabio SCIARRINO
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2015-PoC
Summary Photonics, in recognition of its strategic significance and pervasiveness throughout many industrial sectors, has been identified as one of the Key Enabling Technologies for Europe. Photonics in combination with quantum information science has great potential to facilitate, transform and innovate future technologies for the better. The Proof of Concept (PoC) project intends to contribute to this by developing and testing a communication platform prototype, comprised of single photon detectors, which are efficiently coupled to single mode fibers using an innovative laser written device. This enables the integration of single photon detectors on innovative glass waveguides. These glass integrated photonic circuits offer excellent specifics for on-chip quantum optics implementations in terms of scattering losses, offering flexibility of the waveguide geometry and ensuring high coupling efficiency with optical fibers.
The device developed and tested in the PoC, directly addresses a market need for an integrated and efficient on-chip communication systems. Current available systems have limitations involving high costs, complex production, and inefficient coupling of detectors to optical fibers. The proposed platform will offer 1.) a simplified production process, 2.) high optical fiber coupling efficiency 3.) improved performance levels, 4.) high cost efficiency, and 5.) compactness. Such systems can be applied in a wide range of communication and non-communication applications, such as free-space optical communication, quantum communication, quantum cryptography, DNA sequencing, single molecule detection and material analysis. Moreover, the future commercialisation of quantum computing is expected to create a vast demand for these communication systems.
In addition to the technology PoC, the project carries out IPR strategy considerations through patenting actions, determines the market potential, seeks market feedback, and plans for post-PoC commercialisation paths.
Summary
Photonics, in recognition of its strategic significance and pervasiveness throughout many industrial sectors, has been identified as one of the Key Enabling Technologies for Europe. Photonics in combination with quantum information science has great potential to facilitate, transform and innovate future technologies for the better. The Proof of Concept (PoC) project intends to contribute to this by developing and testing a communication platform prototype, comprised of single photon detectors, which are efficiently coupled to single mode fibers using an innovative laser written device. This enables the integration of single photon detectors on innovative glass waveguides. These glass integrated photonic circuits offer excellent specifics for on-chip quantum optics implementations in terms of scattering losses, offering flexibility of the waveguide geometry and ensuring high coupling efficiency with optical fibers.
The device developed and tested in the PoC, directly addresses a market need for an integrated and efficient on-chip communication systems. Current available systems have limitations involving high costs, complex production, and inefficient coupling of detectors to optical fibers. The proposed platform will offer 1.) a simplified production process, 2.) high optical fiber coupling efficiency 3.) improved performance levels, 4.) high cost efficiency, and 5.) compactness. Such systems can be applied in a wide range of communication and non-communication applications, such as free-space optical communication, quantum communication, quantum cryptography, DNA sequencing, single molecule detection and material analysis. Moreover, the future commercialisation of quantum computing is expected to create a vast demand for these communication systems.
In addition to the technology PoC, the project carries out IPR strategy considerations through patenting actions, determines the market potential, seeks market feedback, and plans for post-PoC commercialisation paths.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-02-01, End date: 2017-07-31
Project acronym 3DV
Project Sensor for 3D Vision
Researcher (PI) Alberto BROGGI
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PARMA
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2011-PoC
Summary "A low-cost sensor able to perceive 3D information would be a breakthrough for a number of applications. Automotive applications would benefit from a low-cost obstacle detector to increase road safety; agricultural vehicles would be able to sense the environment and perform precise (and even autonomous) maneuvers improving their effectiveness; efficient sensing would be a key also to future building automation: elevators doors would close just after boarding and keep open when detecting people's intention to enter, automatic doors would not open when individuals would move in their sensed area but without the intention to cross the door. Even the entertainment industry, which lately invested massively on innovative and interactive sensors, would benefit from precise 3D sensors working even outdoor or in combination with multiple identical sensors.
This proposal is aimed at preparing an engineered version of the current stereo-based system developed for vehicles within the OFAV ERC-funded Advanced Grant and currently under test in many other application domains. It is based on two microcameras and a smart software reconstructing the 3D environment; the software will be ported on a low-cost FPGA+DSP integrated into the sensor box, providing a small and light passive sensor for a variety of applications that nowadays either use other technologies (laser based) or are not able to reach the performance provided by this sensor (e.g. IR-based elevators' door control which is not working in highly illuminated sites and covers only smaller areas).
The algorithm which is now working on a PC-based platform is owned by the team working for the OFAV Project and delivers superb results in terms of accuracy. This proposal is intended to provide resources to implement this solution in hardware and produce a low-cost, small-sized, and high performance sensor to be used in a very wide range of applications."
Summary
"A low-cost sensor able to perceive 3D information would be a breakthrough for a number of applications. Automotive applications would benefit from a low-cost obstacle detector to increase road safety; agricultural vehicles would be able to sense the environment and perform precise (and even autonomous) maneuvers improving their effectiveness; efficient sensing would be a key also to future building automation: elevators doors would close just after boarding and keep open when detecting people's intention to enter, automatic doors would not open when individuals would move in their sensed area but without the intention to cross the door. Even the entertainment industry, which lately invested massively on innovative and interactive sensors, would benefit from precise 3D sensors working even outdoor or in combination with multiple identical sensors.
This proposal is aimed at preparing an engineered version of the current stereo-based system developed for vehicles within the OFAV ERC-funded Advanced Grant and currently under test in many other application domains. It is based on two microcameras and a smart software reconstructing the 3D environment; the software will be ported on a low-cost FPGA+DSP integrated into the sensor box, providing a small and light passive sensor for a variety of applications that nowadays either use other technologies (laser based) or are not able to reach the performance provided by this sensor (e.g. IR-based elevators' door control which is not working in highly illuminated sites and covers only smaller areas).
The algorithm which is now working on a PC-based platform is owned by the team working for the OFAV Project and delivers superb results in terms of accuracy. This proposal is intended to provide resources to implement this solution in hardware and produce a low-cost, small-sized, and high performance sensor to be used in a very wide range of applications."
Max ERC Funding
148 061 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-06-01, End date: 2013-10-31
Project acronym 7TReImHo
Project 7kDa TSLP as a novel type of anti-inflammatory agent to re-establish immune homeostasis
Researcher (PI) Maria RESCIGNO
Host Institution (HI) ISTITUTO EUROPEO DI ONCOLOGIA SRL
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2012-PoC
Summary Intestinal homeostasis is a complex event that relies on different interactions between the host and the commensal flora, also called microbiota. The microbiota is a source of gene products that are required for several functions linked to digestion and energy harvest, thus it has to be tolerated, but at the same time controlled. We have shown that the capacity to tolerate the microbiota is linked to a close interaction between epithelial cells, that are the first line of defence against luminal microorganisms, and specialized immune cells called dendritic cells, that acquire a tolerogenic phenotype and drive the development of T regulatory cells, capable to control the development of inflammatory responses to bacteria. We have identified several effectors mediating this control and focused on a cytokine called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) that is released constitutively by epithelial cells and is strongly downregulated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). By contrast, in other inflammatory disorders like allergy or asthma, TSLP has been shown to be upregulated and to mediate disease.
This apparent controversy is solved when considering that TSLP comes in two different isoforms: a short (sTSLP) and a long (lTSLP). sTSLP has been completely neglected in the literature as most of the reagents do not distinguish it from lTSLP. Within the ERC project Dendroworld, we have generated all the tools to study the function of these two isoforms. We discovered that in IBD there is an inverse correlation between sTSLP and lTSLP. lTSLP is drastically upregulated by recruited immune cells, while sTSLP is downregulated in epithelial cells. Hence, we hypothesized and confirmed that the two isoforms had different activities, with the sTSLP being anti-inflammatory and lTSLP being inflammatory.
In this POC we propose scientific and commercialization activities to bring sTSLP to the market as a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs capable of re-establishing immune homeostasis.
Summary
Intestinal homeostasis is a complex event that relies on different interactions between the host and the commensal flora, also called microbiota. The microbiota is a source of gene products that are required for several functions linked to digestion and energy harvest, thus it has to be tolerated, but at the same time controlled. We have shown that the capacity to tolerate the microbiota is linked to a close interaction between epithelial cells, that are the first line of defence against luminal microorganisms, and specialized immune cells called dendritic cells, that acquire a tolerogenic phenotype and drive the development of T regulatory cells, capable to control the development of inflammatory responses to bacteria. We have identified several effectors mediating this control and focused on a cytokine called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) that is released constitutively by epithelial cells and is strongly downregulated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). By contrast, in other inflammatory disorders like allergy or asthma, TSLP has been shown to be upregulated and to mediate disease.
This apparent controversy is solved when considering that TSLP comes in two different isoforms: a short (sTSLP) and a long (lTSLP). sTSLP has been completely neglected in the literature as most of the reagents do not distinguish it from lTSLP. Within the ERC project Dendroworld, we have generated all the tools to study the function of these two isoforms. We discovered that in IBD there is an inverse correlation between sTSLP and lTSLP. lTSLP is drastically upregulated by recruited immune cells, while sTSLP is downregulated in epithelial cells. Hence, we hypothesized and confirmed that the two isoforms had different activities, with the sTSLP being anti-inflammatory and lTSLP being inflammatory.
In this POC we propose scientific and commercialization activities to bring sTSLP to the market as a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs capable of re-establishing immune homeostasis.
Max ERC Funding
146 917 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-07-01, End date: 2014-06-30
Project acronym A CACTUS
Project Antibody-free method for Counting All Circulating TUmour cellS while maintaining them alive and intact
Researcher (PI) Giacinto Scoles
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI UDINE
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2014-PoC
Summary The problem: Cancer metastases are responsible for 90% of cancer-associated deaths. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) that enter the blood stream on their way to potential metastatic sites are of obvious interest to evaluate correctly patient treatment and therefore influence outcome. CTCs have been identified in bladder, gastric, prostate, lung, breast and colon cancer. The only FDA approved CTCs detection system is Veridex’ CellSearch, which detects only epithelial cancer cells using antibody labelling. Recent evidence showed that non-epithelial cancer cells, which are not detected by CellSearch, are of critical importance in cancer progression.
The idea: Our CTC detection method is based, instead of on antibody labelling, on metabolic features of cancer cells, thus providing potential for detecting both epithelial and mesenchymal cancer cells. Cancer cells induce environmental changes; e.g. in aerobic conditions most cancer cells display a high rate of glycolysis with lactate production in the cytosol, known as the Warburg effect. By separating cells into micro-droplets of pico-liter volume using micro-fluidic water-in-oil emulsions and by characterising the microenvironment surrounding them, CTCs are detected by probing for environmental changes using pH sensitive dyes or enzymatic lactate assays. Our inexpensive diagnostic method provides a way to count and isolate CTCs without any labelling while maintaining cells alive and intact for further studies.
The project: “A CACTUS” is meant to assess the feasibility of commercialising the developed method for counting and sorting CTCs and develop a proper commercialisation strategy. The final goal of this project is to develop a proposition package consisting of technical proof of concept, the business proposition and strategy and an IP portfolio and strategy. This information will be presented in an attractive business plan that will be proposed to potential investors.
Summary
The problem: Cancer metastases are responsible for 90% of cancer-associated deaths. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) that enter the blood stream on their way to potential metastatic sites are of obvious interest to evaluate correctly patient treatment and therefore influence outcome. CTCs have been identified in bladder, gastric, prostate, lung, breast and colon cancer. The only FDA approved CTCs detection system is Veridex’ CellSearch, which detects only epithelial cancer cells using antibody labelling. Recent evidence showed that non-epithelial cancer cells, which are not detected by CellSearch, are of critical importance in cancer progression.
The idea: Our CTC detection method is based, instead of on antibody labelling, on metabolic features of cancer cells, thus providing potential for detecting both epithelial and mesenchymal cancer cells. Cancer cells induce environmental changes; e.g. in aerobic conditions most cancer cells display a high rate of glycolysis with lactate production in the cytosol, known as the Warburg effect. By separating cells into micro-droplets of pico-liter volume using micro-fluidic water-in-oil emulsions and by characterising the microenvironment surrounding them, CTCs are detected by probing for environmental changes using pH sensitive dyes or enzymatic lactate assays. Our inexpensive diagnostic method provides a way to count and isolate CTCs without any labelling while maintaining cells alive and intact for further studies.
The project: “A CACTUS” is meant to assess the feasibility of commercialising the developed method for counting and sorting CTCs and develop a proper commercialisation strategy. The final goal of this project is to develop a proposition package consisting of technical proof of concept, the business proposition and strategy and an IP portfolio and strategy. This information will be presented in an attractive business plan that will be proposed to potential investors.
Max ERC Funding
149 875 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-04-01, End date: 2016-09-30
Project acronym AB-SWITCH
Project Evaluation of commercial potential of a low-cost kit based on DNA-nanoswitches for the single-step measurement of diagnostic antibodies
Researcher (PI) Francesco RICCI
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2016-PoC, ERC-2016-PoC
Summary "Antibodies are among the most widely monitored class of diagnostic biomarkers. Immunoassays market now covers about 1/3 of the global market of in-vitro diagnostics (about $50 billion). However, current methods for the detection of diagnostic antibodies are either qualitative or require cumbersome, resource-intensive laboratory procedures that need hours to provide clinicians with diagnostic information. A new method for fast and low-cost detection of antibodies will have a strong economic impact in the market of in-vitro diagnostics and Immunoassays.
During our ERC Starting Grant project ""Nature Nanodevices"" we have developed a novel diagnostic technology for the detection of clinically relevant antibodies in serum and other body fluids. The platform (here named Ab-switch) supports the fluorescent detection of diagnostic antibodies (for example, HIV diagnostic antibodies) in a rapid (<3 minutes), single-step and low-cost fashion.
The goal of this Proof of Concept project is to bring our promising platform to the proof of diagnostic market and exploit its innovative features for commercial purposes. We will focus our initial efforts in the development of rapid kits for the detection of antibodies diagnostic of HIV. We will 1) Fully characterize the Ab-switch product in terms of analytical performances (i.e. sensitivity, specificity, stability etc.) with direct comparison with other commercial kits; 2) Prepare a Manufacturing Plan for producing/testing the Ab-switch; 3) Establish an IP strategy for patent filing and maintenance; 4) Determine a business and commercialization planning."
Summary
"Antibodies are among the most widely monitored class of diagnostic biomarkers. Immunoassays market now covers about 1/3 of the global market of in-vitro diagnostics (about $50 billion). However, current methods for the detection of diagnostic antibodies are either qualitative or require cumbersome, resource-intensive laboratory procedures that need hours to provide clinicians with diagnostic information. A new method for fast and low-cost detection of antibodies will have a strong economic impact in the market of in-vitro diagnostics and Immunoassays.
During our ERC Starting Grant project ""Nature Nanodevices"" we have developed a novel diagnostic technology for the detection of clinically relevant antibodies in serum and other body fluids. The platform (here named Ab-switch) supports the fluorescent detection of diagnostic antibodies (for example, HIV diagnostic antibodies) in a rapid (<3 minutes), single-step and low-cost fashion.
The goal of this Proof of Concept project is to bring our promising platform to the proof of diagnostic market and exploit its innovative features for commercial purposes. We will focus our initial efforts in the development of rapid kits for the detection of antibodies diagnostic of HIV. We will 1) Fully characterize the Ab-switch product in terms of analytical performances (i.e. sensitivity, specificity, stability etc.) with direct comparison with other commercial kits; 2) Prepare a Manufacturing Plan for producing/testing the Ab-switch; 3) Establish an IP strategy for patent filing and maintenance; 4) Determine a business and commercialization planning."
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-02-01, End date: 2018-07-31
Project acronym ADAPTIVE
Project Industrial implementation of adaptive computational methods for turbulent flow and fluid-structure interaction
Researcher (PI) Johan Kjell Robert Hoffman
Host Institution (HI) KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2014-PoC
Summary The ERC StG project UNICON (Project ID 202984) was completed in July 2013. The goal of UNICON was to develop new adaptive finite element methods for computer simulation of fluid-structure interaction, in particular for problems involving turbulent flow. Simulation of turbulent flow is an outstanding computational challenge, where the UNICON project made significant progress beyond the state of the art. The scientific results of the UNICON project include a new theoretical and methodological framework, and a computer implementation of the methods as open source software, published as part of the FEniCS project, co-founded by the PI (Hoffman) in 2003. FEniCS is today a world leading open source software for computer simulation based on differential equations, with an estimated 50 000 downloads per year, and the PI today leads the PRACE Tier-0 project FEniCS-HPC, in which algorithms and software are developed for the most powerful supercomputers in Europe. Compared to competing simulation software, free as well as commercial, UNICON computational technology has proven to exhibit unique features with respect to accuracy and efficiency.
The idea of this ERC PoC project is to commercialize the UNICON simulation technology. In particular, ADAPTIVE targets civil (non-military) industry, with a focus on subsonic fluid dynamics. The strategy is to deliver services and products tailored to each customer, from deliverance of a simulation result, to education and support for integration of the simulation tools in the workflow of a customer.
Summary
The ERC StG project UNICON (Project ID 202984) was completed in July 2013. The goal of UNICON was to develop new adaptive finite element methods for computer simulation of fluid-structure interaction, in particular for problems involving turbulent flow. Simulation of turbulent flow is an outstanding computational challenge, where the UNICON project made significant progress beyond the state of the art. The scientific results of the UNICON project include a new theoretical and methodological framework, and a computer implementation of the methods as open source software, published as part of the FEniCS project, co-founded by the PI (Hoffman) in 2003. FEniCS is today a world leading open source software for computer simulation based on differential equations, with an estimated 50 000 downloads per year, and the PI today leads the PRACE Tier-0 project FEniCS-HPC, in which algorithms and software are developed for the most powerful supercomputers in Europe. Compared to competing simulation software, free as well as commercial, UNICON computational technology has proven to exhibit unique features with respect to accuracy and efficiency.
The idea of this ERC PoC project is to commercialize the UNICON simulation technology. In particular, ADAPTIVE targets civil (non-military) industry, with a focus on subsonic fluid dynamics. The strategy is to deliver services and products tailored to each customer, from deliverance of a simulation result, to education and support for integration of the simulation tools in the workflow of a customer.
Max ERC Funding
146 897 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-04-01, End date: 2016-09-30
Project acronym ADMIRE
Project A holographic microscope for the immersive exploration of augmented micro-reality
Researcher (PI) Roberto DI LEONARDO
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2017-PoC
Summary Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality are beginning to transform the way we explore and acquire information from the macroscopic world around us. At the same time, recent advances in holographic microscopy are providing new tools for the 3D imaging of physical and biological phenomena occurring at the micron scale. Project ADMIRE will combine this two emerging technologies into the first prototype of an AugmenteD MIcro-REality system for the immersive exploration and the quantitative analysis of three-dimensional processes at the micron scale.
The core of the proposed system will be the three-axis holographic microscope (3DHM) developed within the ERC Project SMART to investigate fast 3D dynamics of swimming bacteria.
ADMIRE project will transform 3DHM from a laboratory technique, targeted to a specific application and operated by highly specialised researchers into a general purpose instrument composed of a compact add-on module for commercial optical microscopes and a virtual reality interface allowing for a direct and intuitive use. Through the ADMIRE Holographic Microscope (ADMIRE-HM) the user will be “shrunk” a million times and virtually sent into a live 3D reconstruction of the real microscopic world contained in the glass slide. There he will find himself surrounded by micro-particles or moving cells that could be inspected from multiple directions and characterized by shape parameters (e.g. size, volume, aspect-ratio) or dynamical features (e.g. flagellar motility, sedimentation velocity, transport in a flow) obtained by means of simple and direct gestures.
The expected outcome of the project is to bring to a development stage TRL 6-7 a technology that could change the way we experience the microscopic world in basic research, biomedical applications and education.
Summary
Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality are beginning to transform the way we explore and acquire information from the macroscopic world around us. At the same time, recent advances in holographic microscopy are providing new tools for the 3D imaging of physical and biological phenomena occurring at the micron scale. Project ADMIRE will combine this two emerging technologies into the first prototype of an AugmenteD MIcro-REality system for the immersive exploration and the quantitative analysis of three-dimensional processes at the micron scale.
The core of the proposed system will be the three-axis holographic microscope (3DHM) developed within the ERC Project SMART to investigate fast 3D dynamics of swimming bacteria.
ADMIRE project will transform 3DHM from a laboratory technique, targeted to a specific application and operated by highly specialised researchers into a general purpose instrument composed of a compact add-on module for commercial optical microscopes and a virtual reality interface allowing for a direct and intuitive use. Through the ADMIRE Holographic Microscope (ADMIRE-HM) the user will be “shrunk” a million times and virtually sent into a live 3D reconstruction of the real microscopic world contained in the glass slide. There he will find himself surrounded by micro-particles or moving cells that could be inspected from multiple directions and characterized by shape parameters (e.g. size, volume, aspect-ratio) or dynamical features (e.g. flagellar motility, sedimentation velocity, transport in a flow) obtained by means of simple and direct gestures.
The expected outcome of the project is to bring to a development stage TRL 6-7 a technology that could change the way we experience the microscopic world in basic research, biomedical applications and education.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-11-01, End date: 2019-04-30
Project acronym ALKVAX
Project Market potentials of ALK vaccination as a new strategy for the cure of ALK positive tumors such as lymphoma, lung carcinoma and neuroblastoma
Researcher (PI) Roberto CHIARLE
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2012-PoC
Summary ALK positive cancer such as Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), Non small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) and neuroblastoma are important cancers of children and adults, currently treated with standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with unpredicatable and poor results, in particular in the case of NSCLC and neuroblastoma. In August 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had an accelerated approval of a novel drug (called Crizotinib) to treat NSCLC that express abnormal ALK protein. Phase II and III clinical trials are ongoing to test the same drug in ALCL and neuroblastoma. However, it is now clear that the treatment with Crizotinib has a good initial efficacy and response, but the cancer inevitably relapses because of the occurrence of drug resistance. This resistance is due to selection of ALK point mutants that no longer bind the inhibitor. New drugs to tame the resistant cells will be probably developed in the future (as happened for Gleevec and second and third generation of BCR-ABL inhibitors), but it is expected that again resistance will emerge.
As part of a research conducted under an ERC Starting Grat, we developed a new therapy for ALK positive ALCL, NSCLC and neuroblastoma based on the generation of a potent and specific anti-tumor response based on the development of an ALK-targeted immune response. This specific anti-ALK immune response is achieved by an anti-ALK vaccination in preclinical mouse models of ALCL and NSCLC. Now, in this Proof-of-Concept grant, we propose to take the next steps to move our invention toward a clinical application in human patients, by testing GLP formulations of the vaccine, its potential toxic effects and by searching the market for companies interested in its development and commercialization. Our goal is to understand and finalize the best strategy to move this experimental therapy to the market and generate a partnership with a pharma company.
Summary
ALK positive cancer such as Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), Non small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) and neuroblastoma are important cancers of children and adults, currently treated with standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with unpredicatable and poor results, in particular in the case of NSCLC and neuroblastoma. In August 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had an accelerated approval of a novel drug (called Crizotinib) to treat NSCLC that express abnormal ALK protein. Phase II and III clinical trials are ongoing to test the same drug in ALCL and neuroblastoma. However, it is now clear that the treatment with Crizotinib has a good initial efficacy and response, but the cancer inevitably relapses because of the occurrence of drug resistance. This resistance is due to selection of ALK point mutants that no longer bind the inhibitor. New drugs to tame the resistant cells will be probably developed in the future (as happened for Gleevec and second and third generation of BCR-ABL inhibitors), but it is expected that again resistance will emerge.
As part of a research conducted under an ERC Starting Grat, we developed a new therapy for ALK positive ALCL, NSCLC and neuroblastoma based on the generation of a potent and specific anti-tumor response based on the development of an ALK-targeted immune response. This specific anti-ALK immune response is achieved by an anti-ALK vaccination in preclinical mouse models of ALCL and NSCLC. Now, in this Proof-of-Concept grant, we propose to take the next steps to move our invention toward a clinical application in human patients, by testing GLP formulations of the vaccine, its potential toxic effects and by searching the market for companies interested in its development and commercialization. Our goal is to understand and finalize the best strategy to move this experimental therapy to the market and generate a partnership with a pharma company.
Max ERC Funding
149 939 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-06-01, End date: 2014-05-31
Project acronym Andrea
Project A Novel Detection protocols for REliable prostate cancer Assays
Researcher (PI) Jan TKAC
Host Institution (HI) CHEMICKY USTAV SLOVENSKEJ AKADEMIEVIED
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2018-PoC
Summary The technology validation was successfully completed indicating a great commercial potential, and the innovative and inventive aspects of the assay platform are now covered by the filed priority European Patent Office (EPO) patent applications. Validated glycoprofiling of the proteins now uses lectins in a format, fully compatible with clinical PSA assay kits. This PoC grant focuses on 1. Pre-clinical retrospective validation of the early stage biomarker of prostate cancer (PCa) and 2. Commercialisation of the PCa diagnostics kit. Pre-clinical (60 human serum samples) is ongoing and retrospective validation study (450 human serum samples) of the assay will be performed by statistical analysis using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The PoC describes all steps, which have been developed so far and all necessary steps, which need to be done for retrospective validation study, product development and commercialisation through our newly incorporated start-up Glycanostics Ltd. (www.glycanostics.com). We will provide PCa diagnostic test resulting in a second opinion to guide the right decision if the biopsy is needed. This will avoid the needless and unreliable biopsies and in the future rival an inaccurate PSA testing.
Summary
The technology validation was successfully completed indicating a great commercial potential, and the innovative and inventive aspects of the assay platform are now covered by the filed priority European Patent Office (EPO) patent applications. Validated glycoprofiling of the proteins now uses lectins in a format, fully compatible with clinical PSA assay kits. This PoC grant focuses on 1. Pre-clinical retrospective validation of the early stage biomarker of prostate cancer (PCa) and 2. Commercialisation of the PCa diagnostics kit. Pre-clinical (60 human serum samples) is ongoing and retrospective validation study (450 human serum samples) of the assay will be performed by statistical analysis using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The PoC describes all steps, which have been developed so far and all necessary steps, which need to be done for retrospective validation study, product development and commercialisation through our newly incorporated start-up Glycanostics Ltd. (www.glycanostics.com). We will provide PCa diagnostic test resulting in a second opinion to guide the right decision if the biopsy is needed. This will avoid the needless and unreliable biopsies and in the future rival an inaccurate PSA testing.
Max ERC Funding
149 500 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-12-01, End date: 2020-05-31
Project acronym AST
Project Automatic System Testing
Researcher (PI) Leonardo MARIANI
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCA
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2018-PoC
Summary Verifying the correctness of software systems requires extensive and expensive testing sessions. While there are tools and methodologies to efficiently address unit and integration testing, system testing is still largely the result of manual effort.
Testing software applications at the system level requires executing the applications through their interfaces to verify the correctness of their functionalities and stimulate all their layers and components. Automating just part of this process can dramatically improve the effectiveness of verification activities and significantly reduce development costs, relevantly alleviating developers from their verification effort.
This project addresses the development of a pre-commercial tool that has the unique capability of efficiently and automatically generating semantically-relevant system test cases equipped with functional oracles. This capability derives from the AUGUSTO technique, which is an outcome of the Learn ERC project. The idea behind Augusto is to exploit the common-sense knowledge, that is, the background knowledge that every computer user has and that normally lets her/him use software applications without the need of accessing any documentation or manual. Once this knowledge is represented abstractly and then embedded in AUGUSTO, the technique can automatically adapt its definition to the software under test every time a program is tested.
This development work will be performed jointly with A company that produces and markets testing tools.
Summary
Verifying the correctness of software systems requires extensive and expensive testing sessions. While there are tools and methodologies to efficiently address unit and integration testing, system testing is still largely the result of manual effort.
Testing software applications at the system level requires executing the applications through their interfaces to verify the correctness of their functionalities and stimulate all their layers and components. Automating just part of this process can dramatically improve the effectiveness of verification activities and significantly reduce development costs, relevantly alleviating developers from their verification effort.
This project addresses the development of a pre-commercial tool that has the unique capability of efficiently and automatically generating semantically-relevant system test cases equipped with functional oracles. This capability derives from the AUGUSTO technique, which is an outcome of the Learn ERC project. The idea behind Augusto is to exploit the common-sense knowledge, that is, the background knowledge that every computer user has and that normally lets her/him use software applications without the need of accessing any documentation or manual. Once this knowledge is represented abstractly and then embedded in AUGUSTO, the technique can automatically adapt its definition to the software under test every time a program is tested.
This development work will be performed jointly with A company that produces and markets testing tools.
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-01-01, End date: 2020-06-30
