Objective Astroglial cells are now recognized as active elements in the brain that sense and integrate synaptic signals and, by releasing gliotransmitters, regulate synaptic efficacy and cerebral blood flow. Despite accrued knowledge, many fundamental aspects of neuron-astroglia partnerships remain open, or have been poorly addressed in a functional context in vivo. For example, does astroglia heterogeneity reflect distinct functions? How do astroglial and neuronal networks interact locally and temporally? How does disruption of neuron-glia interactions contribute to brain disorders? Leading European research groups in the field have gathered in NeuroGLIA to address such questions using a multi-disciplinary approach, including transgenic astroglia-subtype specific mice, electrophysiology and high resolution laser scanning microscopy in vitro and in vivo (including awake mice). This will enable the consortium: i) to verify the potential of activated astroglia to signal back to neurons rapidly; ii) to define the spatial-temporal dynamics of neuron–astroglia reciprocal signalling; iii) to clarify the specific function of different astroglial subtypes in modulation of neuronal excitability and transmission, and in the control of neurovascular coupling. NeuroGLIA will also investigate how dysfunction of neuron-astroglia signalling contributes to the pathogenesis of brain disorders, focussing on epilepsy. In animal models of epilepsy, astroglial activity will be analyzed with respect to initiation, maintenance and cessation of epileptiform activity, also in relation to blood flow changes and activation of inflammatory pathways. Importantly, access to living tissue from epilepsy patients, allows NeuroGLIA to investigate neuron-astroglia interactions and its dysregulation in the human brain. NeuroGLIA is thus in the privileged position to unravel fundamental mechanisms of neuron-astroglia signalling in health and disease, opening new perspectives for specific therapeutic strategies. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyepilepsynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Keywords Epilepsy absence epilepsy astroglia brain vasculature electrophysiology genetic mouse models in vivo imaging neuron-glia interaction temporal lobe epilepsy Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH-2007-2.2.1-6 - Neuron-glia interactions in health and disease Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2007-A See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM BONN EU contribution € 493 404,00 Address VENUSBERG-CAMPUS 1 53127 Bonn Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Christian Steinhäuser (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution € 497 580,00 Address CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Eusebio Jiménez (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CARDIFF UNIVERSITY United Kingdom EU contribution € 410 820,00 Address NEWPORT ROAD 30 36 CF24 0DE Cardiff See on map Region Wales East Wales Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Nick Bodycombe (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Italy EU contribution € 451 384,00 Address PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 00185 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Giorgio Carmignoto (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Participation ended Germany EU contribution € 410 184,00 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Frank Kirchhoff (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ACADEMISCH MEDISCH CENTRUM BIJ DE UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM Netherlands EU contribution € 438 300,00 Address MEIBERGDREEF 15 1105AZ Amsterdam See on map Region West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact F.R. Janssen (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data EURICE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND PROJECT OFFICE GMBH Germany EU contribution € 190 300,00 Address HEINRICH-HERTZ-ALLEE 1 66386 St Ingbert See on map Region Saarland Saarland Saarpfalz-Kreis Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Claudia Giehl (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITAT DES SAARLANDES Germany EU contribution € 96 478,00 Address CAMPUS 66123 Saarbrucken See on map Region Saarland Saarland Regionalverband Saarbrücken Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Claudia Giehl (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data