The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded two further NOVA research projects with ERC Proof of Concept grants, funding given to holders of active ERC grants with the aim of exploring the commercial or societal potential of their discoveries. Among those recognised in the results announced this Tuesday, the 30th, are João Conde, from the NOVA Medical School (Faculty of Medical Sciences), and Cristina Brito, from NOVA FCSH, securing the first grant of its kind outside the fields of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Physics/Engineering to NOVA. Each project will receive €150,000 over a period of 18 months, between 2027 and 2028. In total, NOVA University Lisbon has been awarded 46 ERC grants.
In the field of Life Sciences, the APOLLO-BC project aims to improve the ability to predict breast tumour responses to available therapies, overcoming the limitations of current preclinical models. The proposal focuses on the development of a platform based on 3D tumour models, capable of controlling critical variables in the tumour microenvironment, such as perfusion and mechanical stiffness. Through direct comparison with conventional organoids and the use of patient samples, the project seeks to determine whether this approach can deliver more accurate, reproducible predictions aligned with real clinical responses, thereby helping to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical practice.
Meanwhile, the WHALE-TWIN project — the first in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities — proposes to integrate ocean cultural heritage into European digital infrastructures, demonstrating the potential of historical objects as active sources of knowledge. Drawing on whale bones embedded in buildings in Atouguia da Baleia, Peniche, the project will transform them into cultural digital twins, bringing together historical, archaeological, environmental and social data. This pilot project aims to demonstrate how such heritage can be documented, protected and integrated into broader digital systems, contributing to preservation strategies, community engagement, and strengthening the connection between society and the ocean.