Objective
This proposal aims to clarify mitochondrial contribution to obesity and thinness, using carefully characterized mitochondrial disease and obese patient materials, and genetically modified disease models. Manifestations of mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) defects range from infantile multisystem disorders to adult-onset myopathies or neurodegeneration, and even aging-related wasting. Why defects in oxidative ATP production can lead to such variety of manifestations and tissue specificity is unknown. We have previously identified a number of gene defects that lead to RC disorders. In addition to neurological symptoms, these patients often show various metabolic manifestations: specific gene defects associate with short stature and thinness, whereas others with metabolic syndrome or obesity. This implies that specific mitochondrial defects can have opposing effects for fat storage or utilization. The involved pathways may contribute to mitochondrial disease progression, but are unknown.
We propose to a) undertake a major clinical study on genetically defined, obese or thin, mitochondrial patients, and examine their metabolic phenotype in finest detail. These data will be compared to those from normal obesity, to search for common mechanisms between mitochondrial and general obesity. b) generate a set of disease models for mitochondrial disorders associated with obesity, and knock-out models for specific signallers for crossing with the disease models. c) identify in detail the involved regulatory pathways, and utilize these for searching chemical compounds that could modulate the response, and have therapeutic potential. The project has potential for major breakthroughs in the fields of mitochondrial disease pathogenesis and treatment, neurodegeneration and obesity.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- 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-2010-AdG_20100317
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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.
Host institution
00014 HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO
Finland
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.