Objective
The conversion of normally soluble and functional proteins into insoluble protein aggregates known as amyloids are linked to more than 50 human disorders, including several common forms of age-related dementia such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Amyloids exist as long, rope-like structures known as fibrils which can self-associate into intractable plaques-a hallmark of many amyloid-related diseases. Here we propose to investigate the potential role the material properties of amyloid, in particular their rigidity and propensity to break, play in both the pathology and transmission of amyloid-related disorders. We propose to study the material properties of amyloid using a new and ground-breaking form of microcopy known as 4D ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM). This unique microscope combines the spatial resolution of electron microscopy (nanometer) with the temporal resolution of laser spectroscopy (femtoseconds) and can directly apply minute (piconewton) forces to materials, making atomic-scale “movies” of the resulting displacements. This sets it apart as the technique of choice for characterizing the stiffness and fracture mechanics of proteinaceous nanofibrils such as amyloid. Using this revolutionary technique, we hope to determine the stiffness of amyloids, use amyloid as a single molecule biosensor, perform optical trapping experiments on individual Alzheimer’s disease-related fibrils within the column of an electron microscope and study the destruction of cataract-related amyloid plaques. These results will provide us with some fascinating insights into the molecular forces governing the behavior of amyloids and how this may relate to their pathology in living organisms.
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 neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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-IOF
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
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
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.