Objective
Despite our advances in medical sciences, infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C remain an important health problem for our society. Also, targeting the immune system towards cancer is a promising therapy to fight this disease. Cellular immunity mediated by memory CD8 T-cells provides vital protection against infections and the development of tumors. Understanding the formation and maintenance of these cells is therefore an essential step towards using these cells in a therapeutic way.
Maintenance of T-cells must balance the need of their protective responses with the cost of sustaining specialized cells which may never again in life be required. The mechanisms controlling this balance are largely unknown. NKG2D is expressed on effector and memory T-cells and binds ligands which are upregulated in infected and oncogenic cells. NKG2D signaling promotes survival of lymphocytes via activation of the PI3K-signaling pathway. NK cells deficient for NKG2D undergo apoptosis more rapidly, showing its function in mediating viability and suggesting a role in memory T-cell maintenance. The T-cell receptor (TCR) has also been shown to be important for T-cell survival. TCR deficiency leads to a higher turn-over of memory T-cells. The pro-survival signaling cascade engaged by the TCR is unknown, but recent insights in tonic B-cell receptor signaling suggest involvement of the PI3K pathway.
This research project will investigate the role of NKG2D, the TCR and their intracellular signaling in memory T-cell biology. We will conduct our studies on a molecular, cellular and physiological level, using unique mouse models and advanced immunological techniques. We consider our project scientifically and socially relevant, as it will provide new insights in the mechanisms controlling memory T-cell biology. Understanding these processes will provide new leads for future research and their manipulation may pose promising future targets for the development of more efficient vaccines.
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 cell biology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses HIV
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
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
51000 Rijeka
Croatia
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.