Objective
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation. Despite being the fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition in terms of patients affected, there are currently no disease-modifying treatments and diagnosis typically occurs after significant neurodegeneration has already taken place. Intervening in the prodromal phase remains the critical challenge, and gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is essential. Compelling evidence suggests that α-Syn might aggregate early in the enteric nervous system, spreading to the brain via the vagus nerve and triggering immune cell migration into the brain, where they contribute to disease progression. This project aims to address three key questions: 1) How are peripheral immune cells recruited to the brain in early α-Syn pathology? 2) How do peripheral immune cells interact with brain-resident cells to modulate the spread of α-Syn and neurodegeneration? 3) How do immune profile changes in the blood of high-risk prodromal PD patients relate to disease progression? To answer these questions, I will investigate the entry of peripheral immune cells to the brain using cutting-edge proximity and enzymatic labelling strategies; determine the immune interactome underlying α-Syn pathology and spread by combining α-Syn aggregation assays with in-situ spatial sequencing; and characterize circulating immune cells in prodromal PD patients by employing a humanized engraftment model to link peripheral immune phenotypes to disease progression in patients. By integrating these innovative techniques, this research aims to uncover how peripheral immune cells contribute to the onset and progression of PD, potentially identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for early intervention. Modifying immune cells in the blood to modulate the brain's immune environment represents a major shift in treating PD as a multisystem neuroimmune disorder.
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
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology parkinson
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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)
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
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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-2025-STG
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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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.