Project description
Towards the first regionalised and laminated cerebral organoids
The cerebral cortex develops through exquisitely coordinated processes of cell proliferation, migration and specialisation that ensure cortical regionalisation and lamination. Focal organising centres formed in the early neural plate guide local, short-range patterning and produce the first neurons (Cajal-Retzius cells) that migrate and establish long-range patterning. These processes, particularly in humans, remain poorly understood. Brain organoids – laboratory-grown tissue models – fail to replicate cortical regions and lamination, likely because they do not form focal organising centres and Cajal-Retzius cells. The ERC-funded PatCorg project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind focal organising centre formation and early cell migration, to create patterned, layered cortical organoids for the study of normal development, evolution and brain disorders.
Objective
The development of the mammalian cerebral cortex depends on the precise control of cell proliferation, migration, and neuronal diversity along both radial and tangential dimensions which ensure cortical regionalization and lamination and ultimately the formation of functional areas. These processes depend on the formation of focal organizing centers within the early neural plate. These centers secrete morphogens in gradients to pattern the developing cortex at short range and locally produce the first-born neurons, the Cajal-Retzius cells (CRs). These cells migrate at the surface of the cerebral cortex, establishing long-range patterning through morphogen production and lamination via Reelin secretion. Yet, major gaps in our understanding of these processes, particularly regarding human-specific mechanisms, limit insights into normal and pathological development.
Brain organoids are the only experimental models of human brain development. However, they fail to reproduce cortical regionalization and lamination, likely due to the absence of focal organizing centers and a lack of CR-like cells at their surface. This proposal aims to generate patterned and layered cortical organoids by investigating the mechanisms behind cortical organizing center formation, CR subtype induction, and migration in both mouse and human models. With this next generation of cortical organoids, we will explore region-specific cortical development (including progenitor divisions, cell fate, and architecture), evolutionary adaptations, and pathological conditions.
This will be achieved through a synergistic collaboration of four partners with complementary expertise in cortical development and CRs biology (P1), morphogen control of tissue morphogenesis and cell fate in organoids (P2), biophysics and microfluidics (P3) and cell fate decisions in cerebral organoids (P4).
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 physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
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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)
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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-SYG - HORIZON ERC Synergy 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-SyG
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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.
75794 PARIS
France
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