Objective
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a diverse group of neurological disorders defined by a loss of motor coordination. No effective treatments exist, and there is thus a pressing need for suitable models in which to study disease progression and to screen potential therapies. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are capable of differentiation into any cell type of the body, offer the opportunity to study neurodegeneration in vitro. The proposed study aims to be the first in Europe to establish an iPSC-derived model of cerebellar disease, focusing on two genetic subtypes of SCA - SCA14 and 41. Increasing evidence points towards common pathological pathways shared across multiple SCA subtypes, which could provide novel therapeutic targets. There is also evidence to suggest that abnormalities in Purkinje cell development may contribute to the pathogenesis of the SCAs. This model will thus be used to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying common SCA-causing disease pathways, and to unravel the neurodevelopmental aspects of these diseases, in order to develop early-intervention therapies. Preliminary results indicate successful differentiation of iPSCs into cerebellar progenitor cells, using a protocol I have optimised. Following terminal differentiation, these cells will be investigated for common disease phenotypes and developmental defects, using a combination of transcriptomic, biochemical, and electrophysiological methods. Results will be validated by comparison with post-mortem brain samples and ataxic mouse models. By adapting this differentiation strategy to a format amenable to high-throughput screening, a pipeline will be established for the identification of novel therapeutic compounds. This groundbreaking study will enable the investigation of mechanisms which render the cells of the cerebellum particularly sensitive to degeneration, as well as providing a platform for pre-clinical screening of therapeutics for neurodegenerative conditions.
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 neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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-ST - Standard EF
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2015
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
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.