Objective
During the development of the central nervous system (CNS), neurons extend axons through a crowded environment along well-defined pathways to reach their distant targets. It isA start date of 1st June 2018 is being requested to enable the PI to complete a number of current commitments and put the necessary arrangements in place to enable an efficient start up phase of the project. evident that attractive and repulsive guidance cues in the tissue provide important biochemical signals to guide growing axons along their paths. This can only be part of the story, however, as it is still not possible to predict axonal growth patterns in vivo. In a recent breakthrough discovery, we provided in vivo evidence that neurons also respond to mechanical cues, such as local tissue stiffness, suggesting that mechanical signals are likely an important missing part of the puzzle. However, mechanically activated signaling pathways are currently poorly understood, and how neurons integrate mechanical and chemical signals to result in proper outgrowth is unknown.
By investigating how mechanical signals control neuronal growth and pathfinding, this proposal will close this comprehension gap. By combining state-of-the-art approaches in physics, engineering and biology, we will, for the first time, identify mechanosensitive molecular mechanisms that regulate neuronal growth and guidance in vitro and in vivo. In particular, we will investigate how mechanotransduction cascades (1) directly modulate axon growth by inducing local changes in cytoskeletal dynamics, and (2) indirectly lead to alterations in axon outgrowth by modulating chemical signalling pathways. Ultimately, we will develop a computational model based on our findings, which will lead to a predictive framework for understanding axon pathfinding in the developing brain.
The proposed research challenges current concepts in developmental biology and is very relevant to many other areas in biology. Our results will not only shed new light on the complex control mechanisms of cellular growth and motility, but could also lead to novel biomedical approaches aimed at facilitating neuronal re-growth and regeneration in the damaged CNS.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2017-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.