Objective
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly, a disease mainly driven by dysfunction of highly specific retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. A key hallmark of ageing, dysregulated autophagy and impaired lysosomal clearance, is strongly implicated in AMD pathology, leading to cellular waste accumulation and damage. A certified treatment for dry AMD remains unavailable, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. The central hypothesis of my project is that targeting lysophagy (selective degradation of damaged lysosomes) presents a substantial therapeutic prospect for AMD. To test this, I will utilise a cutting-edge human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived RPE system. These cells offer a superior, physiologically relevant model that precisely recapitulates key AMD features, providing a powerful platform for disease research and drug discovery that is unmatched by conventional models. I will first delineate the role of lysophagy in AMD pathophysiology using established chemical models of degeneration, with Sodium Iodate and Hydroquinone. Building upon this, a key objective is to establish a more robust, precise model using N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E), the key component of lipofuscin that accumulates in RPE cells during AMD, and a custom blue light illuminator to induce acute photo-oxidative damage. I will use these stress models to test whether RPE cells differentiated from a patient carrying risk alleles for AMD are more sensitive to the in vitro AMD models. Next, I will perform a screen for potential lysophagy-inducing compounds. The ultimate goal is to identify novel, stable, and affordable neuroprotective compounds that alleviate retinal degeneration in iPSC-derived RPE cells. This project will elucidate lysophagy mechanisms in a human-relevant system, advancing AMD research, aiding novel therapeutic interventions against age-related neurodegenerative 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.
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 chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology pathophysiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
1700 Fribourg
Switzerland
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.