Project description
Understanding the redox role in retinal ageing
Vision loss is caused by many factors including dysfunction of the retina due to ageing. The connection between redox dysregulation and cell dysfunction has not yet been clearly elucidated. More studies are required to understand these connections. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Redox retinal ageing project will study redox pathways in retinal ageing using the short-lived African turquoise killifish. It will map age-related redox gene networks in killifish Müller glia and compare these with mouse and human data. The project will analyse the effects of redox regulators and assess their impact through various experimental methods. Ultimately, it will identify key pathways that support retinal health and inform therapies for neurodegeneration.
Objective
Age-related decline in retinal function is a major contributor to vision loss, yet the molecular mechanisms linking redox imbalance to neuronal and glial dysfunction remain poorly understood. This project will investigate redox-regulated pathways of retinal ageing using the African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri), a naturally short-lived vertebrate that provides unique opportunities for accelerated ageing research.
Through single-cell transcriptomics, I will map age-associated redox gene networks in killifish Müller glia and compare them with datasets from mouse and human retina to establish conserved signatures of ageing. At the protein level, I will identify post-translational modifications of candidate redox regulators and test their functional impact using transgenic killifish lines. Functional consequences of redox modulation will be assessed through electrophysiological recordings, behavioural assays, and histological markers of degeneration.
This fellowship will deliver a cross-species framework for understanding how redox dynamics govern retinal ageing, identifying core molecular pathways that sustain glial homeostasis and neuronal integrity. Training at University College London under the supervision of Prof. Ryan MacDonald will provide advanced expertise in fish genetics, single-cell biology, and neurophysiology, establishing me as an independent researcher in redox biology and ageing. The project will generate broadly relevant insights with potential to guide future therapeutic strategies against retinal neurodegeneration.
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.
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
WC1E 6BT London
United Kingdom
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.