The non-coding RNA research laboratory (ncr-RESLA) of the School of Life and Health Sciences of the University of Nicosia, under the University of Nicosia Research Foundation (UNRF), has secured €368,750 as part of a larger €13.2 million grant awarded to the DISARM consortium under the EU Horizon programme. This funding supports the groundbreaking project DISARM (Disarming the Silent Threat of Ovarian Cancer), which falls under the HORIZON-MISS-2024-CANCER-01-03 call focused on developing accessible and affordable early detection tools for heritable cancers. The ‘DISARM’ project will run from September 2025 to August 2029.
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecologic malignancy in Europe, largely because it is often diagnosed at late stages due to vague symptoms and the lack of effective screening methods. As one of the most heritable cancers, OC requires innovative approaches to risk assessment and early diagnosis. DISARM tackles this challenge through a multidimensional strategy that combines personalised risk profiling, advanced liquid biopsy technologies, and AI-powered digital tools.
The project brings together a consortium of 26 partners across 12 countries—including 10 EU Member States, the UK, and Canada—united by a shared mission to transform ovarian cancer care with equitable, sustainable, and citizen-engaged solutions.
UNRF’s contribution to the €13.2 million initiative is led by Prof. Christos Papaneophytou and Prof. Kyriacos Felekkis, who head Work Package 5: OC Liquid Biopsy Diagnostics. Supported by Dr. Myrtani Pieri, their team from ncr-RESLA will develop and validate the OVA-miRNA-based assay, a novel diagnostic tool designed to detect circulating miRNA signatures associated with early-stage ovarian cancer. This work builds on ncr-RESLA’s established expertise in miRNA detection and analysis and will be rigorously tested within DISARM’s three-phase validation framework.
“This grant marks a significant milestone in our mission to transform ovarian cancer diagnostics,” stated Professors Papaneophytou and Felekkis. “By leveraging molecular insights and translational research, we aim to deliver clinically robust tools that can save lives.”
The DISARM project not only promises groundbreaking scientific innovation but also underscores UNRF’s commitment to global health equity and collaborative research excellence.
Source: University of Nicosia | News (https://tinyurl.com/2z6exky2)