Objective
Mechanical forces are ubiquitous signals that provide critical and dynamic information about the environments around cells and organisms. Signals about touch, sound, and movements are transmitted to specialized mechanoreceptors but also deform the neuronal cytoskeleton of the central nervous system, particularly when strong forces are involved. Although failures to sense and cope with stresses are linked to human diseases including peripheral neuropathies and dementias, little is known about the connections between biomechanics and disease. A major reason for this gap is the technical challenge of detecting forces and deformations within a living cell or organism. Given the poor prognosis associated with neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cord injury and neuropathies, there is a strong need to develop a better understanding of neuronal mechanics.
In the proposed work, we will define the changes in protein mechanics that contribute to pathological transformations in mechanosensation and mechanoprotection by developing a systems-level understanding of these processes in Caenorhabditis elegans. My lab will exploit our expertise in force application using microfluidic devices and state-of-the-art imaging to visualize mechanical forces in live cells during mechanosensation (Aim 1). We will integrate our observations with mathematical modeling to yield insight into how changes in material properties influence cell shape and physiology during aging of an organism (Aim 2). Over the long term, we will develop new strategies to limit mechanical damage in aging neurons using small protein chaperones and design a prosthetic optogenetic synaptic-transmission system to maintain neuronal signaling in diseased conditions (Aim 3). Broadly, I envision that the knowledge and tools designed in this work will pave the way for the development of future therapies to treat currently intractable diseases that involve changes in nerve-cell function on the molecular and systems levels.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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) ERC-2016-STG
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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.
08860 Castelldefels
Spain
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.