Objective
Stroke disables millions worldwide and costs the EU €38 billion each year. Excitingly, my team has identified a clinically-feasible therapy for stroke which reverses disability in rats when given in a clinically-relevant time frame. Specifically, we have shown that the human growth factor neurotrophin 3 (NT3) promotes locomotor recovery and reverses sensory neglect in adult rats when infused into disabled arm muscles, starting 24 hours after stroke. Importantly, Phase II clinical trials have shown that systemic, repeated high doses of neurotrophin-3 are safe and well-tolerated in humans with other conditions. This paves the way for a Phase II trial in humans after stroke.
We now wish to maximise arm and hand (paw) recovery in elderly rats with larger strokes by optimising dose, timing and route. We will then submit for approval a Clinical Trial Application for a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase II human clinical trial to treat stroke using NT3.
We also propose multidisciplinary, cutting-edge studies to understand how NT3 promotes plasticity in the brain and spinal cord. 1) We will use wireless neural recording in awake rats and functional brain imaging to study plasticity after stroke and NT3 treatment. 2) Our innovative “RatBot” will automatically train, rehabilitate and assess grasping of pellet food. 3) To reveal where NT3 is transported we will track a novel tagged version of NT3 in vivo. 4) In an ambitious final study we will maximise recovery of arm and hand function in elderly rats when treatments are delayed by 1 month after larger strokes.
In summary, we propose a high-risk, high-yield, transdisciplinary, innovative programme of work to maximise sensory and motor recovery after stroke in elderly rats. Treatment will be initiated in a clinically-relevant time frame (after 24 hours or 1 month) using a clinically-relevant dose and duration of treatment via a clinically-straightforward route, ready for a Phase II clinical trial.
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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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.
ERC-2012-StG_20111109
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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.
Host institution
WC2R 2LS London
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.