Discerning the mEchanisms of stem cell protection against COgnitive DEcline in paediatric brain tumours

Descripción del proyecto

Proteger los cerebros jóvenes del daño por radiación

La radioterapia para los tumores encefálicos infantiles puede provocar neuroinflamación. El proyecto DECODE, que cuenta con el apoyo de las acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, se investigará cómo el sistema del complemento (un elemento fundamental de las respuestas inmunitarias) afecta al papel protector de las células madre mesenquimales contra la neuroinflamación. El equipo de proyecto empleará modelos murinos y cultivos celulares y, gracias a ello, investigará cómo el sistema del complemento interactúa con las células madre mesenquimales durante la neuroinflamación causada por radiación. El objetivo es desarrollar tratamientos más seguros y mejorar la calidad de vida para los niños que se recuperan de un tumor encefálico.

Objetivo

The primary objective of this MSCA-PF proposal is to support Dr. Laura Pérez Alós in becoming an independent investigator by conducting the innovative DECODE project. DECODE aims to explore the role of the complement system in modulating the neuroprotective mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in radiotherapy-induced brain inflammation (RIBI) in paediatric brain tumours. Specifically, the project will investigate the role of complement in RIBI using juvenile mice of both sexes, and the interaction between the complement system and MSCs will be assessed through in vitro cell culture models and in vivo juvenile mouse models of brain irradiation. Additionally, the project will evaluate the synergistic effects of complement modulators in combination with MSCs to mitigate the neurocognitive dysfunction caused by RIBI. The research will be supervised by Dr. Vivian Capilla González, leader of the Stem Cells and Translational Neurology group at the Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER), a cutting-edge research centre that fosters excellence in scientific discovery in Spain. Dr. Pérez Alós, an expert in pharmacy and immunology, deeply focused on the complement system, will collaborate with Dr. Capilla González, who brings extensive expertise in brain irradiation mouse models and MSC modulation. DECODE ensures a multidisciplinary research approach, providing Dr. Pérez Alós with comprehensive training to facilitate her growth as a leader and independent researcher. The project’s findings are expected to pave the way for future collaborations and drive the development of MSC-based therapies for RIBI towards clinical application, ultimately offering safer and more effective treatment options for paediatric cancer survivors. The success of DECODE will create new opportunities for Dr. Pérez Alós to secure her long-term career as an independent investigator.