Objective
The development of healthy organisms requires the formation of different cellular systems, such as a blood, bone and muscle. All these different cell types arise during embryonic life from specific pools of mesodermal progenitors (MPs). A central question is how distinct MPs are specified and ultimately why different cells respond to signalling pathways in different ways? Critical insights here are directly relevant to conceive strategies for increasing the efficiency of mesodermal differentiation aimed for treating muscular degenerative diseases. To date, in vitro, somitic mesoderm differentiation for regenerative purpose has had limited success. Wnt signalling promotes Embryonic Stem Cell (ESC) differentiation of all the MPs, including skeletal muscles. The activity of specific pioneer transcription factors (TFs) may be the key for converting Wnt signalling pathways into a specific transcriptional program. Pioneer TFs shape the chromatin landscape by opening the chromatin and allowing the recruitment of lineage specific TFs, and thus ultimately control the TF binding dynamics and the acquisition of a specific cell fate. Pbx proteins are pioneer TFs, which are specifically expressed in the primitive streak, the region of the embryo that will produce all mesoderm, and are critical for promoting mesodermal specification. Here, I will establish how Pbx proteins specify MPs and determine the competence of early mesoderm to respond to Wnt signalling. To this end, I will use mouse embryos and murine epiblast stem cells, which are analogous to human ESC (hESCs). My approach combines the strength of an in vitro ESC differentiation method, routinely used at DanStem, with chromatin immunoprecipitation and transcriptional regulation assays, which I have extensively mastered during my postdoctoral training. I expect that my findings will provide novel tools for rational design of strategies to combat genetic and degenerative muscular diseases, such as muscular dystrophies.
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 muscular dystrophies
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
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.