Objective
The bladder is a unique mucosal barrier devoid of colonizing microbiota and organized lymphoid structures. This research project will examine bladder immunobiology, specifically as it relates to urinary tract infection (UTI) and bladder cancer. Notably, UTI is second only to respiratory infection in prevalence, and bladder cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer. While commonalities between UTI and bladder cancer may not be immediately apparent, the most effective treatment for transitional cell carcinoma is intravesical instillation of BCG, or the direct introduction of bacteria into the bladder lumen. We will investigate bladder immune responses following uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) or BCG instillation, with the aim to identify how dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells behave following bacterial interactions with what is a unique mucosal surface in the body. Specifically, we will test the hypotheses that (i) bladder-resident macrophages acquire UPEC antigen in the bladder and sequester it from DCs, limiting antigen presentation, while lymph node-resident DCs capture disseminated BCG and efficiently present it; and (ii) DCs that do capture UPEC antigen lack the ability to cross-present antigen whereas BCG-antigen loaded DCs have a greater capacity to activate CD8+ T cells. These hypotheses are based on animal model and clinical observations and will help establish a scientific foundation for exploring strategies to enhance UPEC antigen-specific responses, taking lessons from BCG’s capacity to induce cross-priming. The goal of these studies is to understand the differential outcomes in adaptive immune responses to BCG or UPEC thereby defining strategies to enhance clearance of UPEC and improve the efficacy of BCG-mediated tumor immunity. My dual training as a microbiologist and immunologist will ensure that attention is given to both the bacterium and the host in defining the differential regulation governing the respective disease processes.
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 clinical medicine oncology bladder cancer
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine urology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
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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-2012-CIG
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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.
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)
Coordinator
75654 PARIS
France
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.