Objective
Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons and leading to paralysis and death of the patients. Missense mutations in the gene for the ubiquitously expressed Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are the best known cause for familial ALS leading to motor neuron death through an acquired toxic function still unidentified. Mice expressing ubiquitously mutant SOD1 develop ALS and although paralysis arises from death of motor neurons it is now clear that different, especially glial, cell types expressing mutant SOD1 contribute to the disease mechanism. Indeed, we have shown that microglial cells, the macrophage of the central nervous system, are implicated in the progression of the disease. Microglial cells originate from hematopoietic cells that colonize the CNS during development, have both neurotrophic and neurotoxic capabilities and are the first cell type to react to any kind of lesion in the CNS including familial and sporadic ALS. With this project I would like to go a step forward in understanding how microglial cells are implicated in motor neuron degeneration. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to study the interactions between macrophages/ microglial cells and motor neurons in ALS mouse models with the aim of increasing motor neuron survival and improving symptoms of the disease. In particular, we want to address (1) the mechanisms of microglial neurotoxicity, especially excitotoxicity, (2) the signals coming from motor neurons that could attract microglial cells and (3) the participation of the peripheral macrophages (macrophages in peripheral tissues and the ones infiltrating the CNS) to motor neuron degeneration in ALS models. As microglial cells are activated both in familial and sporadic ALS, these findings could provide a foundation for discovery of general pathways of motor neuron disease and open a way to identify new targets for development of therapies.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
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.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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-IRG-2008
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
75654 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.