Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Deciphering the Regulatory Logic of Cortical Development

Objective

The mammalian cortex is the most complex region of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions. Abnormal cortical development often translates into prominent neuropsychiatric diseases, which affect different neuronal subtypes with unique molecular and morphological features. Increasing evidence suggests that epigenetic regulation is essential for cortical development but how multiple regulatory layers are coordinated to specify distinct neuronal lineages in vivo remains unclear.
My team and I recently applied single-cell RNA-seq, single-cell ATAC-seq together with cell-type-specific DNA methylation and 3D genome measurements to map the regulatory landscape of neural differentiation at a single embryonic stage in vivo. However, the process of neuronal subtype specification involves multiple distinct waves of differentiation over several consecutive days. Therefore, to decode the molecular logic of temporal cellular identity in the cortex, I will comprehensively dissect the interplay between gene expression, chromatin topology and epigenetics in specifying cell fate.
In order to accomplish this, I will build upon my extensive experimental and computational expertise to (1) map the regulatory landscape of the developing mouse cortex across multiple regulatory layers and timepoints in single cells; (2) identify and validate cis-regulatory elements via a novel massive parallel cell-type specific reporter assay in vivo and (3) determine the functional consequences of perturbing enhancers and silencers using a highly multiplexed single-cell approach. Collectively, EpiCortex will provide unprecedented insights and establish new paradigms into the interplay between transcription factors, epigenome dynamics and gene expression in development. It will allow us to better understand the molecular logic of lineage specification in the mammalian cortex and more precisely define, compare and ultimately engineer cellular identities for therapeutic and regenerative purposes

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.

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)

Programme(s)

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.

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.

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.

(opens in new window) ERC-2021-COG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM MUENCHEN DEUTSCHES FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM FUER GESUNDHEIT UND UMWELT GMBH
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 1 999 643,00
Address
INGOLSTADTER LANDSTRASSE 1
85764 Neuherberg
Germany

See on map

Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Landkreis
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 1 999 643,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0