Objective
Cerebral malaria (CM) remains a major problem of public health worldwide. The main reason is our insufficient knowledge on the mechanisms leading to this complication. We recently showed that the production of microparticles (MP) is dramatically elevated in patients with CM. Evidence in a murine model indicates that MP may be a pivotal element in CM pathogenesis, and in vitro data on human brain microvascular endothelial cells suggest that reducing MP production by anti-inflammatory drugs correlates with a reduced cytoadherence of parasitised erythrocytes.
Therefore we propose to unravel the mechanisms of MP production, to delineate pharmacological ways to interfere with it, and to define the pathophysiological consequences of excessive MP production. Starting from the patient who develops CM, towards the fine composition of MP, we want to identify the molecules that are relevant to pathogenesis.
Technologies implemented will include astrocytes and endothelial cell culture, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, membrane biology, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, neurochemistry, enzymology, proteomics and lipidomics. To this end we have brought together clinical and research teams that work in complementary fields and have a specific approach to tackle the different questions raised. Colleagues from endemic countries, including Malawi, Cameroon, Tanzania and India play a major role in the project. Our approach presents a high degree of interdisciplinarity, for the reason that our consortium involves experts in clinical practice, immunology, pathology, pathophysiology, cell biology, biochemistry and genetics. In each team, young researchers and students will work in close relationship with experienced researchers.
A better understanding of CM pathogenesis should open new therapeutic avenues and lead to a better handling of patients, reduced malaria-associated mortality and morbidity by avoiding uncomplicated malaria to evolve in CM.
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 health sciences infectious diseases malaria
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology pathophysiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-LIFESCIHEALTH-6
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Funding Scheme
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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
MARSEILLE
France
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