Share on WhatsApp

Funding Opportunity




  Not Verified

Enhancing cell therapies with genomic techniques

European Commission

Expected Outcome:

This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Developing and using new tools, technologies and digital solutions for a healthy society”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results directed towards and contributing to several of the following expected outcomes:

  • Biomedical scientists dispose of tools that allow them to engineer cells with specific therapeutic features.
  • Improved methods and assays are available for biopharmaceutical developers.
  • Clinicians will get access to innovative therapeutic approaches enabling them to treat conditions, where there are currently no or only insufficient therapeutic strategies.
  • Cell engineering will be enriched and pave the way for novel personalised therapy options.

Scope:

Therapies based on cells, stem cells or somatic cells, have been shown to be highly effective as therapeutics for a variety of health conditions. However, bottlenecks remain which currently hamper their safe and efficient application on a large scale. Genome- and epigenome editing have great potential to overcome some of these bottlenecks and to lead to the next-generation of cell-based therapies. Advancing the frontier of cell-based therapy with these tools and further translation of such research into clinically viable solutions may open up a new era of innovative therapies.

This topic aims at the design of engineered cells to address the current limitations of cellular therapies, such as delivery efficiency, patient safety, in vivo persistence, desired therapeutic effect, immune tolerance and manufacturing workflows. The chosen approach should enable to control the characteristics, fate and function of the engineered cells from gene level onwards and thus lead to customised cells with improved therapeutic features.

The use of genetic engineering and in particular gene editing tools should be a key element in the design of the engineered cells. The therapeutic action should be based on the endogenous capabilities of the cells; the exogenous loading of cells with drugs (using the cells as drug carrier) is not in scope.

The engineered cells should be derived from human cells. Either stem cells or somatic cells may be used, but of allogeneic origin, thereby opening up the development of “off-the-shelf” cell therapeutics.

Applicants should explicitly state in their proposal which of the following therapeutic areas is targeted and the proposed work should address only this specific therapeutic area:

  1. Cancer and oncology
  2. Nervous and sensory system
  3. Cardiovascular and circulatory system
  4. Endocrinology and metabolic system
  5. Musculoskeletal system
  6. Digestive system
  7. Infectious diseases
  8. Respiratory system
  9. Dermatology
  10. Immune system and auto-immune diseases
  11. Other

The activities should comprise all the following elements:

  • Engineering of synthetic genetic circuits acting as switches to modulate the desired function(s) and their integration in the chosen cells, with the help of new genomic techniques. Next to new genomic techniques like genome and epigenome editing, also synthetic biology introducing transgenes or artificial genes may be used to endow the engineered cells with improved therapeutic properties and achieve the desired cell phenotype. The applicants should use gene control systems, including transcriptional, translational and/or post-translational control, or other approaches which install on-off switches and control systems, like e.g. a “sense-and-respond” mechanism in the engineered cells, sometimes also referred to as “theranostic cells”.
  • For the efficient construction and acceleration of the design-build-test cycles of the engineered cells containing the programmed functionalities state of the art tools including digital ones (e.g. Computer-Aided Design - CAD - and similar tools) should be used.
  • Suitable in-vitro and ex-vivo systems should be used for testing and demonstration of function and performance of the engineered cells. Their added value, safety and efficacy should be ensured in appropriate pre-clinical models for one specific therapeutic area. Any disease, dysfunction or health impairment may be selected as therapeutic area.
  • Applicants should show that the engineered cells are safe and exert the desired therapeutic effect in-vivo. Engagement and interaction with regulatory authorities during the project is essential for qualification of the developed cell-based therapy and in view of the conduct of clinical studies. The demonstration of the feasibility of the proposed cell-based therapy in first in-human studies would be an asset.

Sex differences should be taken into consideration, both with regard to the parent cells and for the targeted therapeutic application. Collaboration with relevant European research infrastructures and findings from EU-supported research projects should be considered. Participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is strongly encouraged.

Proposals should consider the involvement of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) as a potential interface between research activities and pre-normative regulatory science and in relation to the potential validation of test methods fit for regulatory purpose. In that respect, the JRC will consider collaborating with any successful proposal and this collaboration, when relevant, should be established after the proposal’s approval.

Applicants should provide details of their clinical studies[1] in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system. As proposals under this topic are expected to include clinical studies, the use of the template is strongly encouraged.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🧪 1. Scientific Excellence Is Paramount

For ERC grants, excellence is the sole selection criterion—evaluations focus exclusively on the quality of the research and track record.

Peer-reviewers adhere strictly to predefined criteria (e.g., Horizon ITN evaluations), and weaknesses—rather than strengths—often decide the outcome .

🌍 2. Strategic Alignment with EU Priorities

Horizon Europe emphasizes Green & Digital Transitions and resilience, with specific budget steering across biodiversity, climate, digital, and societal missions.

Proposals that clearly align with these strategic orientations and EU missions are significantly more competitive.

🤝 3. Strong, Diverse European Consortia

Horizon projects demand well-balanced consortia across Europe—geographically and disciplinarily diverse, including academia, industry, SMEs, NGOs .

Effective leadership, communication, trust, and active collaboration are key success factors.

🧴 4. Proven Research Infrastructure & Track Record

A strong publication record—especially in high-impact venues—and prior grant awards bolster chances .

ERC starting, consolidator, or advanced grants require exceptional citation records, strong proposals, and investigator track records .

📈 5. Robust Project Management

For large collaborative grants, project coordination, administration, and communication are just as crucial as scientific content .

Demonstrating realistic budget planning (100% direct costs + 25% indirect costs), administrative frameworks, and governance structures strengthens proposals .

💼 6. Fostering Mobility & Career Growth

Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships emphasize researcher mobility, interdisciplinary training, and developing future talent .

🧷 7. Geographical & Gender Equity

Northern and certain Eastern European institutions currently have higher success rates (≈22% vs below 18% in Southern Europe) 

ERC gender data: male and female applicants have similar success rates, though male applicants apply more frequently .

📌 Key Takeaways

FactorWhy It Matters
Excellence-firstSuperior science and investigator record are non-negotiable.
Strategic fitAlignment with EU green, digital, and mission goals is essential.
Consortium qualityGeographic, sectoral, and expertise balance enhances impact.
Management capacityGood PM builds confidence in successful delivery.
Experience track recordPublications, previous funding, and citations build credibility.
Mobility & careersMSCA focuses on researcher development and interdisciplinary collaboration.

 

🧭 Applicant Tips

Master criteria & avoid weaknesses: Make sure your proposal addresses common reviewer pitfalls—methodology, innovation, budget clarity.

Map to EU priorities: Explicitly connect your objectives to Horizon Europe’s strategic plan (2025–2027).

Build strong consortia early: Prioritize complementary expertise, geography, gender balance, and partner roles.

Show robust project management: Include a Work Package structure, governance plans, and clear communication strategies.

Leverage your track record: Highlight high-impact papers, leadership in projects, and previous awards.

Consider MSCA opportunities: Use them for mobility grants or integrating training into your project.

✅ In Summary

To maximize success with European Commission grants—especially ERC or Horizon Europe—focus relentlessly on scientific excellence, strategic EU alignment, consortium strength, and solid project planning. Combine these with a strong publication record and researcher development elements, and aim to close off any potential reviewer concerns.

General conditions

1. Admissibility Conditions, Proposal page limit and layout

Admissibility Conditions are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries

Eligible Countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions

In recognition of the opening of the US National Institutes of Health’s programmes to European researchers, any legal entity established in the United States of America is eligible to receive Union funding.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding.

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).

Other Eligible Conditions are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.


5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds

In order to ensure a balanced project portfolio with regard to the therapeutic area targeted[[Therapeutic area i to xi, as given in the scope of this topic.]], grants will be awarded (within available budget) to proposals not only in order of ranking but also in function of the highest ranked proposals in different therapeutic areas, provided that the applications attain all thresholds available.

Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes

The thresholds for each criterion will be 4 (Excellence), 4 (Impact) and 4 (Implementation). The cumulative threshold will be 12.

Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement

Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.


6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants

Legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.


Specific conditions

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: European Commission

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Rue de la Loi 200, 1049 Brussels, Belgium

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

Grant

Letter Of Intent Deadline:

Sep 16, 2025

Final Deadline:

Sep 16, 2025

Funding Amount:

$11,716,874

Similar Funding Opportunities

Browse similar funding opportunities
$100,000
Deadline: Sep 03, 2025
Grant
$100,000
Deadline: Sep 03, 2025
Grant, Fellowship
  Verified
$1,029
Deadline: Aug 01, 2025
Grant

Activity Logs

There are 2 new tasks for you in “AirPlus Mobile App” project:
Added at 4:23 PM by
img
Meeting with customer
Application Design
img
img
A
In Progress
View
Project Delivery Preparation
CRM System Development
img
B
Completed
View
Invitation for crafting engaging designs that speak human workshop
Sent at 4:23 PM by
img
Task #45890merged with #45890in “Ads Pro Admin Dashboard project:
Initiated at 4:23 PM by
img
3 new application design concepts added:
Created at 4:23 PM by
img
New case #67890is assigned to you in Multi-platform Database Design project
Added at 4:23 PM by
Alice Tan
You have received a new order:
Placed at 5:05 AM by
img

Database Backup Process Completed!

Login into Admin Dashboard to make sure the data integrity is OK
Proceed
New order #67890is placed for Workshow Planning & Budget Estimation
Placed at 4:23 PM by
Jimmy Bold
Pic
Brian Cox 2 mins
How likely are you to recommend our company to your friends and family ?
5 mins You
Pic
Hey there, we’re just writing to let you know that you’ve been subscribed to a repository on GitHub.
Pic
Brian Cox 1 Hour
Ok, Understood!
2 Hours You
Pic
You’ll receive notifications for all issues, pull requests!
Pic
Brian Cox 3 Hours
You can unwatch this repository immediately by clicking here: https://trialect.com
4 Hours You
Pic
Most purchased Business courses during this sale!
Pic
Brian Cox 5 Hours
Company BBQ to celebrate the last quater achievements and goals. Food and drinks provided
Just now You
Pic
Pic
Brian Cox Just now
Right before vacation season we have the next Big Deal for you.

Shopping Cart

Iblender The best kitchen gadget in 2022
$ 350 for 5
SmartCleaner Smart tool for cooking
$ 650 for 4
CameraMaxr Professional camera for edge
$ 150 for 3
$D Printer Manfactoring unique objekts
$ 1450 for 7
MotionWire Perfect animation tool
$ 650 for 7
Samsung Profile info,Timeline etc
$ 720 for 6
$D Printer Manfactoring unique objekts
$ 430 for 8