Project description
How microplastics damage the heart
Microplastics and nanoplastics are pervasive environmental pollutants now detected in human tissues, including the heart. Their potential to disrupt cardiac function is an emerging public health concern. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood and there are no reliable methods to detect these particles at relevant concentrations. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TOXHEART project aims to investigate how microplastics behave, distribute and cause toxicity in cardiac tissue. To achieve this, researchers will employ a dynamic heart-on-a-chip model that replicates ventricular structure and flow conditions, combined with advanced labelling techniques and multi-omics analysis. The goal is to uncover the molecular pathways driving microplastic-induced cardiac damage and improve cardiotoxicity testing.
Objective
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants recently detected in human tissues, including the heart, raising urgent concerns about their uptake by cardiomyocytes and disruption of cardiac physiology. However, current animal models lack predictive power for human health, and existing analytical methods cannot reliably detect or map MNPs at environmentally relevant levels.
This project aims to systematically investigate the behaviour, distribution, and toxicity of MNPs in cardiac tissue, and to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving cardiotoxicity. To achieve this, advanced MNP labelling and high-resolution quantification will be integrated with a dynamic, multi-layered heart-on-a-chip model replicating ventricular structure and turbulent flow. Complementary omics analyses will reveal molecular pathways underlying stress responses, toxicity, and long-term cardiac effects. Planned secondments to Leiden University will provide training in MNP characterization and behaviour tracking, while collaboration with SynVivo will deliver expertise in organ-on-chip development and industrial translation. The project will generate innovative methodologies for cardiotoxicity testing, reduce reliance on animal studies, and produce regulatory-relevant evidence for EU frameworks. For the fellow, it will provide advanced interdisciplinary training in toxicology, nanoscience, bioengineering, and cardiology, enabling the development of an independent research profile and future leadership in environmental health sciences.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology
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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)
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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
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) 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.
B15 2TT Birmingham
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.