Proof of Concept grants for four Leiden researchers

Selective targeting of immune cells in cancer therapy

Immune therapies are the future of cancer treatment. However, the broad application of these therapies is hampered by the presence of immune suppressive cells in many tumour types. These cells have to be targeted and locally activated for immune therapy to succeed. Systemic immune activation is toxic to the body. Sander van Kasteren previously developed more immune activators, which can be activated locally. Van Kasteren wants to use the Proof of Concept grant to evaluate these immune activators in a pre-clinical cancer model. He will also perform research to determine whether this concept can eventually be brought to the clinic.

Protein traffic in cells sheds light on the effect of treatment

Kim Bonger will use the Proof of Concept grant to explore whether she can used a previously developed technique, THRONCAT, to quickly and accurately profile signalling proteins and biomarkers secreted by cells. The project: THRON-SEC: Drug-Induced Secretome Profiling for Enhanced Therapy is designed to better predict the effect of a certain drug or treatment and reveal any side effects at an early stage. Bonger will also research whether THRON-SEC is technically and commercially viable and how it can be successfully brought to market.

Male infertility caused by chemicals and environmental pollution

Professor Susana Chuva de Sousa Lopes has received a Proof of Concept grant for her project 'Developing a human-based stem cell model for reproductive toxicity (ReproTox)'. The problem of declining male fertility is due in part to exposure to environmental pollution. At present, new substances are first tested on animals, which takes a lot of time and money and does not always work properly because humans and animals differ. Using human stem cells (in vitro) will make it easier to assess how toxic substances are to reproduction. Based in part on the artificial production of sex cells, Chuva de Sousa Lopes wants to develop a test, the ReproTox test, for male fertility. This should help find harmful substances in an early stage of drug development.

Antibiotics to overcome the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance

Nathaniel Martin and his team will use their Proof of Concept grant to further validate the effectiveness of a new class of antibiotics they recently developed. These new antibiotics hold great promise in addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. The grant will fund activities aimed at exploring both the scientific and commercial potential of these promising new antibacterial agents.

For more information about the Proof of Concept grants see the ERC website.

• erc grant