Objective
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, yet current treatments fail to prevent seizures in more than a third of cases (~37%). Most drug targets focus on seizure suppression; however, these are symptoms of abnormal developmental changes in the neural network. The processes that give rise to epileptic brain regions are summarized by the concept of epileptogenesis. Therefore, preventing epileptogenesis is critical for long-lasting seizure freedom.
Studying epileptogenesis is challenging, as the developmental processes involved in it occur before birth during neurodevelopment itself. Recent progress in stem cell models, however, has the potential to change this. The Knoblich Lab pioneered the use of human cerebral organoids to model disease in-vitro, such as Tuberous Sclerosis (TSC). Cortical tubers are the source of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in TSC, which our recent study (Eichmüller et al., Science 2022) uncovered to originate from a specific precursor cell type; CLIP cells. Strong preliminary evidence shows that pathological processes are occurring in TSC organoids which recapitulate epileptogenic electrical biomarkers called high frequency oscillations (HFOs).
In this proposal I will utilise our brain organoid model to understand human circuit-level dysfunction in epilepsy and identify
evidence-based causal treatment for epileptogenesis prevention. Therefore, I plan to classify stages of epileptogenesis in human brain TSC organoids using large-scale signal features and in-depth molecular characterizations to identify biomarkers for abnormal circuit initiation and progression. I will reveal stage-specific druggable targets for epileptogenesis and then test novel anti-epileptogenic compounds on pathological network activity prevention. Together, this project marks a change in the approach towards epileptic drug discovery to combat the significant socioeconomic burden of drug-resistant epilepsy.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology epilepsy
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture vegetable growing root crops
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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-2023-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.
1030 WIEN
Austria
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.