Objective
Our view of vertebrate brain evolution is mainly informed by data in mammals. Lacking from this view are cartilaginous fish, that emerged around 450 million years ago with two synergistic innovations: the jaw and predatory behavior. By studying shark embryos, we noted striking similarities with mammals in developmental programs, including the presence of Basal Progenitors (BPs) and Cajal-Retzius cells (CRs), transitory cell types essential for the massive expansion and structural complexity of the mammalian neocortex. The evolutionary origins of BPs and CRs are generally considered as innovations in mammals or amniotes. However, their presence and strong conservation in sharks suggest a much earlier emergence in vertebrate history. We hypothesize that the jawless to jawed vertebrate transition, because it expanded predation, range of food options and habitats, also promoted a substantial expansion and increased complexity of the brain, leaving a strong imprint in developmental programs that are particularly well conserved in sharks. In EvoBrainShark, I propose to reassess the sequence of events that led to the formation and diversification of the jawed vertebrate brain. My team will leverage our expertise in the shark embryo to: 1) investigate the evolution of vertebrate-specic brain developmental programs; 2) predict and validate gene regulatory networks operating on every diversification step; 3) investigate the evolutionary trajectories and roles of BPs and CRs; and 4) leverage functional tools in the shark model to test phenotypic impact of targeted developmental mechanisms. We will combine single-cell and spatial multiomics, bioinformatics, cross-species comparisons, wet-lab developmental biology, and gene editing tools. This project will reveal mechanisms of neural diversification, foster new tools for the emerging shark research community and fundamentally reshape our knowledge of vertebrate brain evolution.
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.
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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-COG
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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.
91190 GIF-SUR-YVETTE
France
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.