Objective
Small RNA-mediated regulation of gene expression is a recent addition to fundamental gene regulatory mechanisms that directly or indirectly affect possibly every gene of a eukaryotic genome. The predominant sources of small RNA in somatic tissues are microRNA genes that encode short dsRNA hairpins of evolutionary conserved sequence. Disorders of metabolism, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes are poorly understood at a molecular level. In this application we propose to explore if miRNA regulatory networks play a role in these diseases. We will employ state of the art methods for identification of small RNAs and their regulated targets and use biochemical, cell and animal model systems to study the detailed molecular mechanisms of metabolic gene regulation by miRNAs. In addition, we will investigate the underlying principles of how RNAs are taken up by cells and develop methods that will improve delivery of miRNA mimetics or inhibitors through cell-specific uptake. The specific aims of this study are: Aim 1: To define the small regulatory miRNA content of liver, muscle and adipose tissue that are associated with abnormal glucose and lipid homeostasis and to dissect the underlying molecular pathways that govern their expression. Aim 2: To characterize the functions of miRNAs in insulin resistance, glucose uptake and production, fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis. Aim 3: To identify factors and dissect the pathways that regulate RNA uptake by cells and to develop novel pharmacological treatment strategies to manipulate miRNA-expression. Together, this proposal will shed light on the function that miRNA regulatory networks play in metabolism and in the pathophysiology of obesity/type 2 diabetes. In addition, these studies will contribute to the development of new RNA delivery technologies that are urgently needed as experimental tools as well as for novel therapeutic strategies.
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 physiology pathophysiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition obesity
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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.
ERC-2009-AdG
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.
Host institution
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.