Objective
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting millions of people worldwide and therefore it is fundamental to understand its underlying mechanisms. Although the neuropathologies involved in AD are well-described, the effect of those pathologies on neuronal function are poorly understood. Using a transgenic mouse model of AD that overexpresses human amyloid-beta (a-beta), we will study the effects of a-beta accumulation on neocortical synaptic function and receptive field organization using in vivo intracellular recording and in vivo 2-photon laser-scanning microscopy (2PLSM). We will measure the effect of soluble a-beta on individual synapses by imaging calcium dynamics in dendritic spines of somatosensory cortical neurons in response to whisker stimulation. Responses in transgenic animals will be compared to age-matched controls. This will measure the effects of a-beta on individual synapses in vivo. In addition, we will measure the neurotoxic effects of insoluble a-beta plaques on synaptic function by comparing the calcium dynamics in dendritic spines proximal to plaques to those distant from them. Finally, we will measure the effects of soluble a-beta and plaques on the receptive field organization of Layer II/III somatosensory cortical neurons to quantify the effects of the neuropathology on an intact neocortical network. This study will measure and differentiate between the effects of soluble a-beta and insoluble plaques on cortical function at several levels: at the level of the single synapse (calcium dynamics in dendritic spines), single neuron (electrophysiology of subthreshold inputs and spike outputs) and cortical network (receptive field organization) in the intact animal. This study will therefore fill a crucial gap between the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease and the symptoms of the disease, which are mediated by currently unknown neuronal events.
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 basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- 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.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-ERG-2008
See other projects for this call
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
52900 Ramat Gan
Israel
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.