Project description
Disentangling the origins of epigenetic patterns associated with children’s mental health
Epigenetic patterns at birth – a mechanism that regulates gene activity in response to genetic and environmental influences – may be associated with common mental health problems in children. This potentially groundbreaking discovery is highly unexpected and could introduce a paradigm shift in how we approach children’s mental health. By researching timing effects, the EU-funded TEMPO project will shed new light on the origins of mental health issues and open much-needed opportunities for early risk detection. It will combine innovative, multidisciplinary approaches and the generation of exceptional new data in a unique set of longitudinal European cohorts. The aim is to elucidate the ‘what, where and why’ of epigenetic timing effects.
Objective
TEMPO aims to solve the newly discovered epigenetic 'time puzzle' of child mental health. Recently it has been observed that common mental health problems in children (e.g. hyperactivity, poor impulse-control) are associated with epigenetic patterns at birth - a mechanism that regulates gene activity in response to genetic and environmental influences. Curiously, however, this association is lost when measuring the same epigenetic patterns later in development. This discovery is highly unexpected and potentially ground-breaking: the existence of timing effects could lead to new insights into the origins of mental health and open much-needed opportunities for early risk detection. Yet, what factors drive epigenetic timing effects, how they manifest and why they occur is currently a puzzle.
To solve it, TEMPO will combine innovative, multidisciplinary approaches and the generation of exceptional new data in a unique set of longitudinal European cohorts to address the what, where and why of epigenetic timing effects. Three work packages will be implemented to: (i) Systematically characterize unknown properties of epigenetic timing effects, including their genomic scale, specificity to mental health and persistence into adulthood, using advanced quantitative methods; (ii) Locate epigenetic timing effects with greater precision, by establishing whether effects are driven by epigenetic patterns in specific tissues and cell-types that are found at birth but not later in life; and (iii) Explain timing effects, by disentangling the genetic and environmental origins of epigenetic timing effects on mental health, drawing on the power of genetically sensitive, quasi-experimental designs.
As well as leading a breakthrough in this emerging field and addressing a major knowledge gap at the intersection of biological and psychological sciences, TEMPO has the potential to set in motion a paradigm shift in the way that we conceptualize, understand and approach child mental health.
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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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.
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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.
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2021-STG
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3015 GD Rotterdam
Netherlands
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