Project description
Tissue boundary formation studied in zebrafish model
Defects in tissue boundary formation are often linked with abnormal cell behaviours in diseases. The EU-funded DevBoundaries project will investigate in vivo mechanisms of tissue boundary formation using the zebrafish embryonic shield as a model system. The embryonic shield is an evolutionarily conserved "organiser" structure that is critical for setting up the embryo's overall body plan. The research fellow will apply multidisciplinary approaches that combine live imaging, spatial transcriptomics and genetic manipulation to determine how shield cells differentiate and generate tissue boundaries. The project will result in a comprehensive and dynamic atlas detailing cell lineages, cell movement and gene expression of early embryogenesis in vertebrates.
Objective
During animal development, boundaries need to be reliably established between cell types to guarantee the physical and functional integrity of tissues. This process requires delicate orchestration of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, and defects in tissue boundary formation are often linked with abnormal cell behaviours in diseases. Genetic programs involved in cell signalling and cell sorting across tissue boundaries have been previously identified, yet we still lack a systematic understanding of the mechanisms underlying boundary formation, because it has been challenging to analyse the coordination of gene expression, cell lineages and cell movement in space and time.
In this study, I will probe the in vivo mechanisms of tissue boundary formation using the zebrafish embryonic shield as a model system. The embryonic shield in zebrafish embryos is an evolutionarily conserved “organizer” structure that is critical for setting up the overall body plan of the embryos. The shield region contains overlapping progenitor cells that give rise to various tissue structures whose boundaries form and sharpen during gastrulation. However, the formation of shield progenitor cells into compartmentalized tissues has been a process that is poorly characterized, and the molecular and biophysical mechanisms that coordinate cell differentiation and morphogenesis to establish tissue boundaries remain elusive. I will utilize multi-disciplinary approaches that combine live imaging, spatial transcriptomics and genetic manipulation to determine how shield cells differentiate and generate tissue boundaries. I anticipate identifying cellular and genetic mechanisms controlling boundary formation, and provide a comprehensive and dynamic atlas detailing cell lineages, cell movement and gene expression of early embryogenesis in vertebrates.
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 developmental biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
4051 Basel
Switzerland
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.