Objective
Understanding neural bases of stress, fear and anxiety is of an immense importance to modern society. Anxiety disorders affect about 25% of adults at least once in their lives, and make a huge social, family and welfare impact. The most dramatic form, post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by cognitive impairment, depression, fear, anxiety and may eventually lead to suicide. Understanding of the neural mechanisms of PTSD and other anxiety disorders could reduce the personal and societal impact through development of more efficient therapies.
Fear memories are encoded as changes in strength of synaptic connections, a process called plasticity. Extra-cellular proteolysis provides an attractive mechanism underlying neuronal plasticity. Precisely orchestrated exocytosis of a protease could help remodel synaptic connections by degrading extra-cellular matrix proteins, interacting with membrane receptors or activating latent growth factors. Consistent with this idea we have recently shown that the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasmin system is regulated by restraint stress in the hippocampus and amygdala, and it promotes stress-related neuronal remodelling.
Moreover, our data indicate that other serine proteases are also key players in stress-induced plasticity and anxiety. The molecular mechanisms by which proteases facilitate stress-induced anxiety remain unclear. We propose to identify protease-regulated genes in the amygdala, and examine their roles during psychological stress using a combination of genetic, cell biological, pharmacological, electrophysiological and behavioural approaches.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine psychiatry posttraumatic stress disorder
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine psychiatry anxiety disorders
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-8
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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.
Coordinator
LEICESTER
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.