Objective
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to human health, particularly through the infiltration of microplastics (MPs) into the body. Emerging studies have detected MPs in various organs, with food and drinking water identified as major sources of exposure. While clinical studies suggest potential links between MPs and conditions such as thrombosis, liver cirrhosis, and endometriosis, a critical gap remains in understanding how the physicochemical properties of MPs, altered by environmental weathering, influence their ability to permeate biological barriers like the intestinal lining—a key gateway to systemic exposure.
The TRACE-MP project (Tracking the Penetration and Circulation Effects of Environmental MicroPlastics) addresses this gap by investigating how environmentally relevant MPs, specifically those prepared by artificial weathering and with bio-coronas (BC) formed through interactions with proteins and lipids in the gastrointestinal tract and blood, permeate the intestinal barrier and induce vascular endothelial leakiness. This research will utilise advanced in vitro models, including static and dynamic systems, to simulate realistic biological conditions. The project’s objectives include: (1) characterising bio-coronas on MPs in the gastrointestinal and blood environments, (2) evaluating the permeation of MPs-BC complexes through the intestinal barrier, (3) assessing their potential to induce endothelial leakiness, and (4) correlating these findings with the physicochemical properties of MPs to perform a comprehensive risk assessment.
By advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MPs' systemic distribution and impact on human health, TRACE-MP will inform regulatory policies and mitigation strategies to protect public health from plastic pollution. This interdisciplinary approach, combining chemistry, toxicology, and medical biology, is timely and crucial given the growing evidence of MPs in human tissues and their potential health risks.
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 health sciences public health
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- medical and health sciences basic medicine toxicology
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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-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global 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-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
E1 4NS LONDON
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.