Project description
Mouse studies for spinal cord regeneration in mammals
Research has challenged the belief that the adult mammalian CNS cannot regenerate. The spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) demonstrates spontaneous spinal cord regeneration and functional recovery. Preliminary data indicate an early shift in the injured spinal cord, which promotes scar reversion and activates a regenerative process. The ERC-funded CORDheal project will study spinal cord regeneration in mammals using the unique organism Acomys. By creating a single-cell RNA sequencing and ATAC-seq atlas, the project will identify pathways related to scar avoidance and regeneration. It will also compare regeneration processes across different Acomys tissues and assess other Deomyinae subfamily members to explore the evolutionary history of regenerative abilities. This research aims to uncover key mechanisms of mammalian regeneration.
Objective
It is widely documented that the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) does not regenerate. This failure results from the inhibitory scar environment and the decline of developmental growth programs. Overturning this dogma, the PI recently demonstrated that the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) regenerates spontaneously the spinal cord, with robust functional recovery. Her current preliminary data support that an early switch occurs in the injured Acomys spinal cord, allowing scar reversion and activation of a regenerative program. In CORDheal, this exceptional non-model organism will be used to address the knowledge gap on the mechanisms enabling a mammal to regenerate the CNS. The pioneering nature of the PI’s data and her unique combined expertise in CNS regeneration and Acomys biology, places the PI at the forefront of the field. To find the roadmap enabling spinal cord regeneration in mammals, a single cell RNAseq/ATACseq atlas of the injured spinal cord of Acomys and Mus (regeneration-incompetent mouse) will allow discovering cell populations that enable activation of pathways supporting scar avoidance and promoting regeneration. The extent to which regeneration recapitulates development, and the possible birth of novel genes that may contribute to adaptive evolutionary innovation will be tested. As major instructive programs that allow regeneration of different Acomys tissues may be similar, comparative analyses amongst different regenerating Acomys organs will follow. Lastly, to determine when regenerative ability evolved in mammals, other members of the Deomyinae subfamily (to which Acomys belongs) will be assessed for regenerative properties. This will allow finding putative close divergent species, providing ideal conditions to narrow down differences between regeneration and scarring. This ambitious and pioneering program will push current research boundaries to unveil vital cell adaptive mechanisms underlying regeneration in mammals.
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
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-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.
4200-135 PORTO
Portugal
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.