We are thrilled to share that the European Commission has selected ORFeus for funding under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks call, awarding the proposal a score of 100%!
ORFeus will train fifteen doctoral researchers to decode the dark proteome: the thousands of small proteins that our standard methods have long overlooked. These microproteins are increasingly linked to cancer biology, immune regulation and metabolism, yet the field still lacks the shared tools and cross-trained scientists it needs to move forward at scale.
The network brings together fifteen leading research groups across Europe, twelve industry and research partners (from Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Bruker to Genentech and Boehringer Ingelheim) and fifteen international academic advisors. Together they cover the full range of methods the dark proteome demands: ribosome profiling, mass spectrometry, computational genomics, structural biology and AI.
The project is coordinated by Sebastiaan van Heesch at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht. Recruitment of doctoral researchers is expected to begin in autumn 2026, with the first candidates starting their research projects in early 2027.
A perfect evaluation score is a wonderful recognition of the science and the ambition behind this program. We are deeply grateful to every partner and advisor who helped shape the proposal, and we cannot wait to get started.