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Greifswald, 16 September 2025 – Dr Ramona Clemen, research group leader at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), has been awarded the prestigious ERC Starting Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). Her project, "PriME – Next-Generation Oxidative Protein Modifications Enhancing Antitumour Immunity", will receive approximately €1.5 million in funding over five years.
The ERC Starting Grant is one of the most recognised funding formats for outstanding young scientists in Europe. It honours projects that open up new scientific horizons – as well as researchers who have the potential to make a lasting impact in their fields.
Oxidative modifications as the key to immune activation
In the PriME project, the 33-year-old INP researcher is pursuing a novel approach to activating the immune system against cancer: with the help of medical gas plasmas, various oxidative modifications are produced on biomolecules, creating so-called "danger signals" for immune cells. Different modifications are to be linked to induced immune cell activity in order to trigger the strongest anti-tumour immunity and enable the development of a cancer vaccine.
Dr Clemen brings to PriME her many years of research experience in plasma redox biology, which she has built up over the last eight years at the INP. In earlier studies, she was able to show that plasma-treated proteins activate immune cells and inhibit tumour growth in preclinical models. These findings will now be systematically expanded upon and specifically utilised for the development of personalised cancer vaccines.
International jury recognises pioneering interdisciplinary approach
The international ERC jury particularly highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the project, which innovatively combines plasma research, redox chemistry, immunology and proteomics. The aim is to create a database of immunogenic oxidative protein modifications based on more than 50 different ROS chemistries. These "ROS fingerprints" will be tested in vitro and in vivo for their immunostimulatory effects. The long-term goal is to develop new immunomodulatory therapies.
"Overall, the panel appreciated the scientific excellence of the project, emphasizing the potential to advance the state of the art by systematically mapping ROS chemistries to specific oxidative protein modifications, with the potential to deliver transformative impact in cancer immunotherapy," the ERC panel's evaluation states. The application was selected from hundreds of submissions and awarded the highest rating of "A – fully meets the ERC's excellence criterion".
Impetus for plasma research and cancer immunology
"The funding from the ERC is a great honour for me and confirmation of our interdisciplinary work," says Dr Ramona Clemen. "I look forward to working with my team to find out how targeted oxidative modifications can activate the immune system and thus contribute to fighting cancer."
Prof. Dr Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Scientific Director and Chairman of the Board of the INP, adds: "This success shows how much long-term support and guidance for young scientists pays off. With perseverance, expertise and innovative spirit, Dr Clemen has submitted an exceptional application – we are proud to have her at the INP." The institute sees itself not only as a place of excellent research, but also as a space for targeted scientific development, where young talents are given the freedom to pursue their own ideas and engage in interdisciplinary work.
The INP warmly congratulates Dr Ramona Clemen on this outstanding success. The award is not only a milestone for her research, but also an important boost for the international visibility of plasma physics in biomedicine.
Note
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council (ERC) Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ERC grant (PRIME 101221066)
INP researcher Dr Ramona Clemen receives the European Research Council's ERC Starting Grant for the ...
Copyright: INP
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