Objective
Synapses are small, highly specialized structures of intercellular contact that play a crucial role in neuronal information processing and memory. While traditional fluorescence microscopy is an extremely powerful tool to study the dynamics of biological processes in vivo with molecular specificity, it has insufficient resolving power to dissect details of synaptic structure and functional organization or the structure of small subcellular components. In contrast, far-field optical super-resolution techniques provide spatial resolution at the nanoscale beyond the limit imposed by the diffraction of light. However, current super-resolution techniques are limited to thin brain preparations or to the surface of thick samples. The central aim of this proposal is to establish optical super-resolution methods for imaging chemical synapses in all layers of the cerebral cortex and in deep lying structures of the brain and to apply these techniques to timely questions in neurobiology. We will develop intravital super-resolution microendoscopy based on the stimulated emission depletion (STED) technique. This will enable intravital microscopy of arbitrary brain regions with diffraction-unlimited resolving power. In addition, we will miniaturize the setup, opening up the investigation of nanoscale structures in the brain of awake, freely moving and behaving animals. With this, we will be able to correlate for the first time synaptic structural or organizational plasticity at the nanoscale with behavioural stimuli in a living animal, including for instance in the hippocampus of an animal exposed to a learning situation. Furthermore, these methods will advance the understanding of the interplay between neurons and glia, in particular at synapses, and will help to shed light on brain structure and function in physiological states as well as in disease.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
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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.
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.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF
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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.
Coordinator
80539 Munchen
Germany
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.