Objective Transposable elements (TEs) account for more than two thirds of the human genome. They can inactivategenes, provide novel coding functions, sprinkle chromosomes with recombination-prone repetitivesequences, and modulate cellular gene expression through a wide variety of transcriptional andposttranscriptional influences. As a consequence, TEs are considered as essential motors of evolution yetthey are occasionally associated with disease, causing about one hundred Mendelian disorders and possiblycontributing to several human cancers. As expected for such genomic threats, TEs are subjected to tightepigenetic control imposed from the very first days of embryogenesis, in part owing to their recognition bysequence-specific RNA- and protein-based repressors. It is generally considered that the evolutionaryselection of these TE controllers reflects a simple host-pathogen arms race, and that their action results in theearly and permanent silencing of their targets. We have recently uncovered new evolutionary evidence andobtained genomic and functional data that invalidate this dual assumption, and suggest instead thattransposable elements and their epigenetic controllers establish species-specific transcriptional networks thatplay critical roles in human development and physiology. The general objective of the present proposal is toexplore the breadth of this phenomenon, to decipher its mechanisms, to unveil its functional implications,and to probe how this knowledge could be exploited for basic research, biotechnology and clinical medicine. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesdevelopmental biologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-ADG-2015 - ERC Advanced Grant Call for proposal ERC-2015-AdG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Host institution ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Net EU contribution € 2 500 000,00 Address BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 500 000,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Switzerland Net EU contribution € 2 500 000,00 Address BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 500 000,00
