Project description
Mechanisms and functional consequences of cell identity loss over time
Cell division underpins the development, growth and reproduction of multicellular organisms, yet repeated proliferation may erode a cell’s identity through accumulating epigenetic and transcriptional errors. The ERC-funded DECODEM project will study cell divisions in the context of replicative and chronological time to evaluate how a cell’s proliferative history influences its biological age and ageing. Focusing on heterogeneous muscle stem cells, it will compare proliferative capacities, link them to epigenetic and transcriptional alterations, assess how replicative history influences cell function, and test whether proliferation-associated changes can be prevented or reversed. By defining the principles governing loss of cell identity, DECODEM will deepen understanding of ageing and inform regenerative therapies and treatments for age-related diseases.
Objective
Maintaining cell identity is crucial for multicellular organisms; yet this “cellular memory” is potentially compromised each time a cell divides. To date, the degree to which sustained proliferation contributes to the accumulation of epigenetic and transcriptional errors over time, and to aging per se, is largely unknown. In DECODEM, I aim to analyse cell divisions uncoupled from chronological time, to gain unique insight into the cellular mechanisms underlying aging.
We will investigate the extent to which a cell’s proliferative history determines its biological age. We will focus on the heterogeneous pool of muscle stem cells (MuSCs), to determine i) the links between the maintenance or loss of proliferative ability of individual MuSCs; ii) the accumulation of epigenetic and transcriptional alterations in different proliferative contexts; iii) the impact of replicative histories on the function of individual cells; and iv) the potential for blocking or reversing proliferation-associated alterations.
DECODEM has the potential to reveal the fundamental rules that govern the degradation of transcriptional and epigenetic programs over replicative and chronological time. By advancing our understanding of aging and identifying alterations linked to degraded cell identity, this research holds the potential to contribute to regenerative therapies and to open new avenues for treating age-related diseases.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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
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.
28006 Madrid
Spain
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