Project description
How environmental contaminants alter behaviour in Atlantic cod
Human-made chemicals continue to build up in the natural environment. Recently, evidence emerged that this contamination could have subtle effects on the behaviour of aquatic organisms. The EU-funded NRgCod project will advance the field of environmental toxicology by applying the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept in the sentinel species Atlantic cod, which tends to accumulate energy metabolism disrupting contaminants in the fatty liver. The project will use the precision-cut liver slicing technique and develop in vitro luciferase reporter assays to identify nuclear receptor activity after exposure to such contaminants and link these effects to behavioural changes. Developing AOPs in an ecologically relevant species like cod is highly relevant to determining the ecological impacts of exposure to contaminants.
Objective
Environmental contaminants are accumulating in oceans and marine food webs and thereby pose a risk for both ecosystem and human health. In my MSCA-project, I aspire to bring the field of environmental toxicology to the next level by applying my track-record in developing Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) in the model organism zebrafish to the sentinel species Atlantic cod. The renowned Environmental Toxicology laboratory of Prof. Anders Goksyr at the University of Bergen (UiB), is specialised in interactions of human-made chemicals with nuclear receptors (NRs) in Atlantic cod. Contaminant activated NRs can be the initiating molecular event leading to a cascade of responses, disrupting energy metabolism and culminating in an adverse outcome at behavioural level. At UiB, I will be trained in applying the precision-cut liver slicing technique and in developing in vitro luciferase reporter assays to identify NR activity after exposure to major legacy and emerging contaminants. I will then translate my knowledge on mechanisms leading to behavioural effects in zebrafish larvae, to the Atlantic cod. I will be supported by the Environmental Chemistry Group at the Institute of Marine Research (secondment) providing expertise on larval Atlantic cod toxicology and lipid chemistry. Developing AOPs in an ecologically relevant species is a young field of research but of high relevance to defining the ecological consequences of contaminant exposures. This project will innovatively expedite the Environmental Toxicology research and underline my ambitions to become an independent academic group leader. I will further sharpen my academic profile by profiting from UiBs unique Centre of Excellence in Biology Education (bioCEED) which will enhance my skills in modern supervising and teaching techniques. The proposal addresses pressing scientific questions by integrating the expertise and network of both the host and me while shaping my profile on the way to become a leading scholar.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
5020 Bergen
Norway
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.