Project description
Shedding light on the brain’s overlooked barrier
The arachnoid barrier remains one of the least understood barriers of the central nervous system (CNS). Its complex structure and transport mechanisms suggest it plays an important role, yet a significant knowledge gap remains regarding its function and impairment in neurobiology. In this context, the ERC-funded Arrachnobarrier2.0 project aims to explore the role of the arachnoid barrier in CNS function and disease. Specifically, it will study how disruption of this barrier affects cerebrospinal fluid movement and may contribute to disease processes. Overall, the project seeks to shed light on the structure, function, and pathophysiology of the arachnoid barrier.
Objective
Less is known about the structural and functional importance of the arachnoid barrier than any other CNS barrier, including the blood-brain barrier. Animal models of arachnoid barrier impairment are not known/have not been analyzed. The sophisticated architecture and cellular specialization of the arachnoid barrier includes tight- and tricellular junctions joining two cell layers, direct contact with other arachnoid cells, and the specific expression of a broad repertoire of influx and efflux transporters, suggest major importance. Lack of understanding of the arachnoid barrier represents a conspicuous knowledge void in neurobiology. The Arrachnobarrier2.0 project seeks to elucidate and understand these features and to examine their pathophysiological importance. We will test the hypothesis that arachnoid barrier disruption may have serious consequences for CNS function. We will also test the hypothesis that the arachnoid barrier is responsive to diverse disease conditions and can contribute to disease pathophysiology. We hypothesize that the arachnoid barrier has regional cellular and molecular adaptations that underlie CSF transit from the subarachnoid space to dural lymphatics. Some of these sites are known, such as olfactory nerve and cranial nerve exit sites, whereas others are more speculative, such as arachnoid granulations and sites of bridging vein crossing. The three Specific Aims in this proposal will address these aspects of arachnoid barrier structure, function, molecular and regional heterogeneity, and pathophysiology. This proposal is innovative and has potential for ground-breaking discovery because arachnoid structure and function has remained elusive since its anatomic description ≈500 years ago and the discovery of its barrier properties ≈50 years ago. The project offers unique insights into the cellular and molecular composition of the arachnoid, its physiological function, regenerative capacity and pathophysiological roles.
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 physiology pathophysiology
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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
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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
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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) ERC-2024-ADG
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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.
751 05 Uppsala
Sweden
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.