Objective
Developing embryos display a remarkable capacity for self-organization, generating diverse shapes, patterns and structures de novo. First conceived in the 1950s, Turing’s reaction-diffusion hypothesis proposes that this self-organization is driven by interacting and diffusing signalling molecules. Indeed, mathematical Turing models recapitulate patterning in silico. However, key limitations cast doubt on the relevance of Turing models in vivo. First, current models are highly simplified and extremely fragile, at odds with the highly reproducible nature of embryonic development. Second, Turing mechanisms form repetitive patterns (e.g. fingers), whereas many in vivo patterns do not repeat. Third, Turing patterns do not scale with tissue size unlike most embryos and tissues. We propose that these limitations arise because current models are too simple to capture the molecular complexity operating in vivo. Turing models thus represent only a small subset of the much larger class of in vivo reaction-diffusion mechanisms.
Here, we will build biologically-aligned mathematical models to investigate reaction-diffusion systems with unprecedented levels of complexity and biological realism. Aided by new computational tools (Aim 1), we seek novel self-organizing mechanisms that are: highly robust (Aim 2); do not repeat (Aim 3); and scale to tissue size (Aim 4). Our pilot data already indicates that this will reveal new paradigms for pattern formation beyond Turing’s original hypothesis.
Our models will be challenged by data from various biological systems, including published datasets as well as close collaborations with experimentalists, taking advantage of the increasing availability of high-resolution quantitative data. Our unique blend of expertise spans theoretical physics, experimental embryology, and computational biology, ideally positioning us to discover conceptually new mechanisms of pattern formation that allow embryos, tissues and organoids to self-organize.
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.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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-2024-STG
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.
AB24 3FX Aberdeen
United Kingdom
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.