Objective
Neural circuits, composed of interconnected neurons, represent the basic unit of the nervous system. One way to understand the highly complex arrangement of cross-talking, serial and parallel circuits is to resolve its developmental and evolutionary emergence. The rationale of the research proposal presented here is to elucidate the complex circuitry of the vertebrate and insect forebrain by comparison to the much simpler and evolutionary ancient “connectome” of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. We will build a unique resource, the Platynereis Neuron Type Atlas, combining, for the first time, neuronal morphologies, axonal projections, cellular expression profiling and developmental lineage for an entire bilaterian brain. We will focus on five days old larvae when most adult neuron types are already present in small number and large part of the axonal scaffold in place.
Building on the Neuron Type Atlas, the second part of the proposal envisages the functional dissection of the Platynereis chemosensory-motor forebrain circuits. A newly developed microfluidics behavioural assay system, together with a cell-based GPCR screening will identify partaking neurons. Zinc finger nuclease-mediated knockout of circuit-specific transcription factors as identified from the Atlas will reveal circuit-specific gene regulatory networks, downstream effector genes and functional characteristics. Laser ablation of GFP-labeled single neurons and axonal connections will yield further insight into the function of circuit components and subcircuits. Given the ancient nature of the Platynereis brain, this research is expected to reveal a simple, developmental and evolutionary “blueprint” for the olfactory circuits in mice and flies and to shed new light on the evolution of information processing in glomeruli and higher-level integration in sensory-associative brain centres.
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 physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology invertebrate zoology
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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-2011-ADG_20110310
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
69117 Heidelberg
Germany
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.