Objectif This Horizon2020 – Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions – Individual Fellowship grant proposal focuses on the development of a new gene therapy approach targeting intractable epilepsy, with the major aim to achieve autoregulation of seizure detection and termination. For this purpose, a glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl; cloned from C. elegans) will be expressed in excitatory neurons in the rodent brain using a viral vector and a human CamKIIα promoter. In response to increased glutamate levels, as present during epileptic seizures, the channel activates and opens a Cl- conductance. This, in turn, inhibits excitatory neurons and causes seizure suppression. As a further advantage, an “add-on” therapeutic approach with the GluCl agonist ivermectin, an approved antihelminthic drug, is available. In principle, the gene therapy could therefore confer both an autoregulatory effect to the transduced brain region and have an external “gain control” exerted by pharmacological modulation. Taken together, my Fellowship proposal aims to develop a radically new antiepileptic strategy to treat drug-resistant, refractory epilepsy, which affects approximately 1 million people in Europe. Champ scientifique medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyepilepsymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapymedical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgerynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Thème(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Appel à propositions H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinateur UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Contribution nette de l'UE € 137 591,10 Adresse GOWER STREET WC1E 6BT London Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Région London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 137 591,10
