Objective
The research area of this proposal is Life Science at the intersection of neuroscience, pharmacology and physiology. In the central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes are both numerous and complex. They contact most other cell types in the CNS, and the processes of a single astrocyte can envelop as many as 140,000 synapses. Thus, these cells are uniquely able to receive signals from many sources, in particular synapses, via their G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Additionally, using conventional pharmacological approaches, it has suggested that astrocytes can also send signals to neurons by release of various transmitters to modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity. This reciprocal signaling between neurons and astrocytes (gliotransmission) is still a novel concept, and its physiological relevance remains controversial in the field. In the first part of this proposal, we propose to use novel pharmacogenetic tools that will allow us to selectively activate astrocytes vs. neurons in a more physiological manner to further test the concept of gliotransmission and its role in sleep and memory in vivo. In the second part of this proposal, we will take advantage of these powerful pharmacogenetic tools to test a hypothesis that has heretofore been inaccessible to experimentation, i.e. the possibility that astrocyte GPCRs control glycogen metabolism to modulate synaptic transmission, plasticity, sleep and memory formation. Addressing successfully such major questions in the field of neuroscience, and in particular, resolving some controversies about gliotransmission has profound implications in our understanding of the brain, but also and importantly ,in the clinic. From these studies, we are likely to resolve important aspects of astrocyte function and open up entirely new areas of investigation; this work may lead to potential treatments of diseases, including Alzheimer disease and memory and sleep disorders.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy
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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-2012-CIG
See other projects for this call
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.
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)
Coordinator
75794 PARIS
France
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.