Project description
Unravelling neural stem cell plasticity
Stem cells (SCs) are essential for tissue renewal and regeneration in the adult organism. They have the unique ability to self-renew as well as differentiate into the tissue cell types. The ERC-funded NSC-PLAS project focuses on neural SCs (NSCs) and the remarkable plasticity they exhibit. The research team is interested in delineating the molecular basis of NSC plasticity by studying epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, molecular regulation of quiescence and cell cycle in NSCs as well as immune system evasion. Collectively, project findings will advance understanding of NSC behaviour and glioma biology, opening avenues towards new treatments.
Objective
Somatic stem cells (SCs) sustain tissue renewal and regeneration in adult mammals. The maintenance of their stemness and long-lasting preservation in cohabitation with differentiated progeny at specific niches poses these cells to a considerable challenge. To deal with it, SCs display a complex network of yet to be fully uncovered mechanisms that allow multilevel plasticity. Cellular plasticity indicates the ability of cells to reversibly change their phenotype in response to the microenvironment. In the subependymal zone of the adult rodent brain, self-renewing neural SCs (NSCs) generate new neurons for pre-existing olfactory circuits. It is clear that NSCs must be endowed with plasticity properties, but the analysis of these potential traits needs a precise definition and a combination of comprehensive approaches to unravel their molecular regulation. Building from our new technologies and some preliminary data, in this proposal we will try to advance in the molecular basis and extent of the cell plasticity repertoire of adult subependymal NSCs by concentrating in three of its potential forms:
Epithelial plasticity, or the ability to dynamically and reversibly undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions, a form of cell adaptation that has never been conceptually proposed or evaluated in adult NSCs.
Cycling plasticity, or the ability to move in and out of the cell cycle and remain quiescent for long periods of time. This plasticity clearly exists, but its molecular regulation remains largely elusive.
Immune plasticity, or the capacity to evade adaptive immunity. Our view about immunity in the brain has dramatically changed in the last few years, raising interest in its potential interaction with NSCs.
Understanding cell plasticity traits in NSCs may contribute to understand not only NSC and/or SC behavior, but also glioma biology and to identify pathways to intervene in brain tumor treatment.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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-2022-ADG
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.
46010 Valencia
Spain
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.