Objective
Mechanical hypersensitivity is a debilitating symptom of many chronic pain conditions and is characterized by painful responses to innocuous mechanical stimuli (e.g. gentle touch, movement). Despite this, the intrinsic cellular, molecular and functional drivers of mechanical hypersensitivity remain poorly understood in humans, in part due to the limited translational success of rodent studies (due to species-specific differences) and limited access to human sensory neurons. As such, there is an urgent need to better understand the molecular contributors of mechanical hypersensitivity in human models that can be exploited for therapeutic intervention.
In this fellowship, I will use a panel of patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived nociceptors to define how mechanical stimuli are detected and transduced and identify the ion channels and modulators (both PIEZO2-specific and independent) that regulate these responses in a human context. This interdisciplinary project builds on my expertise in iPSCs, neuronal differentiation and mechanobiology and leverages Prof. David Bennett’s (Oxford) expertise in pain biology, electrophysiology, patch-sequencing and multimodal omics analysis to:
(i) Define the molecular and functional basis of mechanical hypersensitivity: I will establish the mechanism(s) by which human nociceptors respond to mechanical stimuli and how this is dysregulated in monogenic (e.g. Paroxysmal Extreme Pain Disorder) and multifactorial (e.g. Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy) pain conditions by linking electrophysiological signatures and transcriptomic profiles within single cells.
(ii) Identify and characterize PIEZO2-interacting partners in human nociceptors and their contributions to mechanical hypersensitivity.
Ultimately, this work will lead to the identification of novel regulators of mechanical hypersensitivity (thus advancing the mechanobiology field) and providing novel pipelines for therapeutic targeting of chronic pain.
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
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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(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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
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.