Project description
Stem cells and gene editing for new treatment for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves loss of dopaminergic (DA) midbrain neurons causing motor dysfunction. As one of the most challenging neurodegenerative diseases to study, the EU-funded SPARK project will use stem cell-based technologies to model PD and develop patient-specific therapies. Harnessing induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed from PD patient-derived somatic cells as well as those from healthy individuals they aim to model key aspects of DA neurodegeneration. Other technologies used for study are brain organoids, stem cell transplantation and single cell sequencing to determine the reason for DA neuron degeneration. For cell replacement treatments, ‘healthy’ DA neurons will be created with gene editing from a healthy patient.
Objective
Loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in midbrain underlies motor dysfunction in Parkinsons disease (PD). PD is one of the most challenging neurodegenerative diseases to study due to the limitations of existing model systems in recapitulating its complex etiology resulting from individual risk variants, distinct genetic and epigenetic backgrounds, and age-related environmental triggers. The SPARK project (Human Stem cell-based technologies to model PARKinsons disease and drive patient-specific cell therapy) will use induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed from PD patient-derived somatic cells as well as from age- and sex-matched healthy individuals to model key aspects of DA neurodegeneration. Advanced human stem cell-based technologies including brain organoids and cell transplantation will be exploited to recreate functionally mature human DA tissue in an ad hoc disease-like environment. A single-cell sequencing approach will be used to obtain molecular insights into PD etiopathogenesis and the pathological mechanisms responsible for DA neuron degeneration. Lastly, gene editing in a patient-specific genetic background will be performed to create an autologous source of healthy DA neurons reverted from the disease-related phenotype. These cells will be pre-clinically validated in a PD rat model, with a view to ultimately achieving autologous cell replacement treatments for PD.
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 neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology parkinson
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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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.
00185 Roma
Italy
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.