Objective
There are currently no tests for early prion diagnosis. Such tests would help to prevent transmission through blood, biologicals, the food chain, and medical procedures, and (ii)identify candidates for emerging anti-prion therapies and prophylactic procedures, especially among silent carriers of pathogenic PrP mutations. Current tests are based on the identification of PrPSc or of characteristic pathologies in brain samples collected post mortem. Recent advances have shown that minute amounts of PrPSc exist in body fluids such as blood. Although these PrPSc levels are too low to be detected reliably by existing methods, they point to the feasibility of using these fluids whith improved methods. We propose to develop methodologies for the pre-clinical detection of prions in body fluids, based on (i) PrPSc, and (ii) novel surrogate (non-PrP) markers of prion diseases. To this end, we have assembled a powerful consortium of partners with proven clinical, experimental and industrial achievements. PrPSc detection in body fluids will be achieved by systematically improving every step in the process. (i) Sample fractionation: Fluids will be fractionated to identify fractions enriched in PrPSc. For example, FACS-based fractionation of white blood cells (WBC) will identify PrPSc containing cells and organelles. (ii) PrPSc concentration: novel PrPSc-binding molecules will be developed and used to capture and concentrate PrPSc prior to detection. (iii) PrPSc amplification: We will develop in vitro and cell culture-based approaches to amplify PrPSc in WBC prior to its detection. (iv) PrPSc detection: We will use improved PrP antibodies and use methods to detect both protease-resistant and protease-sensitive PrPSc. Surrogate markers and molecular 'signatures' of prion diseases will be identified using novel highly sensitive proteomic and genomic approaches such as SELDI and DNA microarrays. Proprietary software will be developed for analysis.
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 computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- engineering and technology medical engineering medical laboratory technology laboratory samples analysis
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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.
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.
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.
FP6-2004-LIFESCIHEALTH-5
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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.
Coordinator
AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
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.