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Tracing human cortical neurons involved in epileptic processes at multiple scales

Project description

Investigating neuron behaviour in epileptic patients

Epilepsy, a neurological condition, results from excessive brain activity and causes seizures. It impacts approximately 50 million people globally, affecting healthcare costs and productivity. Understanding the involvement of various neuron types in generating epileptic events is crucial. However, studies using animal models only partially represent human tissue properties during the disease. The MSCA-funded EpiNeuron project aims to monitor neuron recruitment during epileptic events in humans. This involves analysing cellular activity and characterising cortical neurons to classify events in detail. The project will study neuron behaviour in epileptic patients before and after surgery, providing insights into the role of neurons in epilepsy and enhancing treatment.

Objective

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological diseases in humans, affecting 50 million people worldwide. This brain disorder is characterised by hypersynchronous neural activity resulting in seizures. Abnormal recruitment of cells induces unusual behaviour, sensations or loss of awareness. Epilepsy has a substantial economic effect on health care needs or the loss of productivity in work.
Investigating the role of different neuron types in generating pathological activities is essential for identifying what makes a brain region predisposed to generate epileptic events. Most information regarding the properties of neuronal circuits during epileptic activity comes from animal models. However, recent studies have shown substantial differences when comparing human tissue to animals and epilepsy models to disease.
I aim to utilise a unique multilevel approach to follow how neurons are recruited into epileptic events and categorise them at an unprecedented level of detail in human epileptic patients. I plan to analyse cellular activity in recordings obtained in vivo and characterise human cortical neurons in vitro with simultaneous intra- and extracellular electrophysiology completed with post hoc histology. This will be the first study examining neuronal behaviour and subtypes in the same epileptic patients, both in vivo (before surgery) and in vitro (after surgery). This innovative approach will provide valuable information on the role of the different neuron types in the generation of epileptiform activity.
The fundamental knowledge of the cellular mechanisms of epileptic events specific to humans could help us understand the human disease deeply and thus achieve a significant breakthrough in epilepsy treatment. Enhancement in the diagnostics and cure of epilepsy would considerably decrease the cost of medical care and promise an invaluable improvement in the quality of life on the individual level.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinator

INSTITUT DU CERVEAU ET DE LA MOELLE EPINIERE
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.

€ 195 914,88
Address
BOULEVARD DE L'HOPITAL 47
75013 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
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Research Organisations
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Total cost

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