Objective
Development involves increasingly intricate processes of physical tissue sculpting (morphogenesis), resulting in highly reproducible shapes. The apparent paradox between reproducibility at macroscopic scales, and emerging evidence of extensive heterogeneity and stochasticity at the molecular and cellular scales, suggests that active mechanisms are necessary to ensure morphogenetic robustness. However, as biomechanical theories of morphogenesis have largely ignored the presence and many facets of noise, robustness remains poorly defined.
We hypothesize that mechano-chemical feedbacks between signaling, forces and geometry provide correction mechanisms that not only mitigate noise, but can also, counterintuitively, leverage it to drive robust morphogenesis. By deriving generic noisy mechano-chemical models, we will systematically quantify and dissect the efficiency of different feedback mechanisms underlying morphogenetic robustness, for different physiologically-relevant noise sources. Predictions will be tested via experimental collaborations in selected in vitro and in vivo contexts, where feedbacks and noise can be tuned. We will follow three independent, yet complementary, aims:
Aim 1: Understand how forces, signaling, and noise interact to achieve robust temporal coordination and spatial symmetry during morphogenesis.
Aim 2: Define whether and how noisy initial and boundary conditions act as a source of robust morphogenetic information.
Aim 3: Develop frameworks for unbiased inference of noise and robustness mechanisms from complex morphogenetic datasets.
Recent advances in high-throughput experiments, computational analyses and biophysical theories make it an ideal time to address this longstanding question. With a strong foundation in data-driven modeling of biological stochasticity, cell mechanics and tissue self-organization, our lab is uniquely poised to provide fundamental insights into the design principles underpinning robust development.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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.
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Keywords
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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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)
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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.
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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3400 Klosterneuburg
Austria
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