Objective
Dendrites and axons show extremely diverse forms, with important implications for nervous system wiring and neuronal function. How neurons acquire their morphology is a question of great importance for understanding neuronal development and regeneration. In this project, we will explore how the innervation of the epidermis, the major sensory organ for detecting mechanical stimuli, is achieved during embryogenesis. Specifically, we will study the development of the sensory cells that respond to pressure (P) on the skin of the medicinal leech, which are uniquely advantageous for this project because their large size and small number. Their sensory arbors innervate domains (“tiles”) that are organized in very regular patterns. Hence, it is easy to detect morphological changes produced experimentally. Moreover, following crush or axotomy these neurons can regenerate their branches and synaptic connections. Previous work showed that cell-cell interactions are fundamental for setting up sensory tiling. Our preliminary results indicate that molecular cues, such as the axon guidance cue netrin, which are heterogeneously distributed in the skin, play a key role in setting up sensory tiling. The overall goal of this proposal is to formulate a new developmental scheme for sensory neurons and to implement it to promote reinnervation of transplanted skin post trauma. In the proposed study, we will modulate the expression of factors, such as leech netrin, using a novel technology that enables the delivery of reagents into live tissue accurately. The technology, a pneumatic capillary gene gun, has been recently developed at UCSD (the P.I. with colleagues) and will be brought into the lab for the proposed project. We will affect gene expression in individual cells or in small groups of cells in skin to manipulate neuronal growth. We expect that our results on the leech will illuminate the phenomenon of sensory tiling in other systems, including vertebrates.
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 biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
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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-IRG-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.