Project description
Cranial neural crest cells: paradigm for tissue regeneration?
Cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) are a population of stem cells that during development give rise to sensory neurons and glia. Intriguingly, CNCCs also produce the bones, cartilage and connective tissues in the head through a process that involves reacquisition of a pluripotency state. Apart from contradicting developmental paradigms, this phenomenon opens up questions regarding tissue repair. Funded by the European Research Council, the REGENECREST project is interested in identifying the gene regulatory networks and chromatin rearrangements that regulate this reprogramming of CNCCs. Emphasis will also be given to the role of the niche and the cell interactions that govern this pluripotency re-emergence during development. The project will lay the groundwork for future studies aiming at stimulating tissue repair.
Objective
Cell differentiation progresses via a continuous lineage restriction process where cell potential is reduced as the embryo develops. Pluripotent embryonic cells can beget all somatic cell types, but this capacity is rapidly restricted during the formation of the three germ layers, each giving rise to distinct cell types. Uniquely among vertebrates, a stem cell-like population arising in the embryo rostral part ? called cranial neural crest cells (CNCC) ? challenges this paradigm. CNCC not only give rise to ectoderm derivatives, such as neurons and glia, but also to cell types canonically associated with the mesoderm such as bone and cartilage of the face. During my postdoctoral training I demonstrated that murine CNCC naturally reverse cell differentiation to return into a pluripotent state during development. In addition, I showed pre-migratory CNCC carry positional information reflective of their spatial origin in the neuroepithelium. However, this identity is subsequently erased with migratory CNCC forming a transcriptionally homogenous population, which later re-diversifies as CNCC undergo commitment events. In my research proposal, using single-cell transcriptomics and genomics assays I seek to uncover and characterize gene regulatory networks and chromatin rearrangements regulating the reemergence of pluripotency programs within CNCC and the underlying reprograming of cellular identity. CNCC represent a unique model to study the molecular mechanisms governing cell-intrinsic behavior but also the role of the niche, which may influence the sequence of events by cell-cell interactions during craniofacial ontogeny. The interdisciplinary scope of experimental strategies included in this proposal will help understand how these fundamental processes are regulated and might result in novel strategies to stimulate craniofacial tissue repair, as cell dedifferentiation and reconfiguration of positional identity are two essential milestones for endogenous regeneration.
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 medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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) ERC-2021-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
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.