Technion Researchers Win Prestigious EU "Proof of Concept" Grants

Technion researchers Prof. Moran Bercovici and Prof. Naama Geva-Zatorsky have been awarded ERC Proof of Concept (ERC PoC) grants by the European Research Council (ERC). These prestigious grants aim to support the translation of academic research into real-world applications and commercialization, including the establishment of startup companies. They are awarded exclusively to researchers who have previously received an ERC grant.

Prof. Moran Bercovici from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering received the grant for developing an innovative technology to produce customized eyeglass lenses. As part of the project, an automated and rapid system will be developed to manufacture personalized lenses using liquid polymers shaped by surface tension, without mechanical processing or molds. This method allows for the production of high-quality lenses within minutes, saving over 90% in raw materials and eliminating the need for complex manufacturing infrastructure. It could enable local eyeglass production in resource-limited regions.

Prof. Naama Geva-Zatorsky from the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine received the grant for a project aimed at developing a method to predict the response of melanoma patients to biological therapies, while also engineering a bacterial formulation to improve their response. The prediction will be carried out using a rapid, non-invasive method, and the engineered bacteria formulation will be designed to undergo a “phase switch,” a transformation in gut microbes (the microbiome)—to support the patient’s immune response to immunotherapy. Notably, her approach leverages the natural changes in gut bacteria that occur in cancer patients.

Prof. Geva-Zatorsky is an expert in the relationship between the gut microbiome and the immune system. One of her major discoveries is a mechanism of genomic phase switching in gut bacteria, which helps them survive in changing environments and significantly affects the immune system. In the ERC-funded project, she will develop technology based on engineered phase switching states in bacteria to help the immune system more effectively attack melanoma cells during immunotherapy.

In this ERC funding round, the European Commission will award €22.5 million to 150 selected projects across European universities, including universities in Israel. Each researcher will receive €150,000.