Objective
Accumulation of neurotoxic amyloid beta peptides (Ab) in the brain is considered to be the central event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Ab is released from the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) during specialised processing events. This proposal aims to examine presenilin 2 (PS2) protein-mediated molecular and cellular events that are protective against Ab accumulation and AD and, as such, is aligned with the objective of the FP7’s Health Research Programme that focuses on “Research on the brain and related diseases”. We propose that cerebellum, an area of the human brain that is inherently resistant to AD, holds the key regulator(s) against AD. Indeed, we have recently shown that mature APP is significantly reduced in human cerebellum compared to entorhinal cortex and hippocampus - the most susceptible human brain regions to AD. Our further preliminary results have shown that PS2 protein is significantly overexpressed in cerebellum compared to other brain regions. We hypothesise that PS2 overexpression in cerebellum is, at least in part, responsible for reduced APP maturation leading to reduced Ab generation and protection against AD. We will examine a protective role of PS2 against AD in a multidisciplinary project performing molecular and cell biological as well as proteomic analyses in vitro (at a cellular level) and in vivo (in an animal model of AD) as well as in human brain samples. We will also test whether PS2 alterations contribute to AD-like phenotype in a rare lysosomal disorder Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPCD) in which cerebellum is the most affected brain region and whether PS2 contributes to APP-CTF/Ab degradation and Ab reduction through its role in autophagy-lysosomal system. These studies will reveal a novel role for PS2 in APP and Ab metabolism and its function as a brain protector. Our understanding of the protective mechanisms in the human brain will pave the way for development of adequate therapies against AD and NPCD.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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-2013-IEF
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.
Coordinator
10000 Zagreb
Croatia
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.