Objective
Microglia are the main immune cells of the brain, but their role in brain injury is highly controversial due to the difficulties in selectively manipulating and imaging microglial actions in real time. Specifically, it is unclear whether microglia control neuronal survival after injury via shaping the activity of complex neuronal networks in vivo. To this end, we have combined fast in vivo two-photon imaging of neuronal calcium responses with selective microglial manipulation for the first time. Our data suggest that microglia constantly monitor and control neuronal network activity and these actions are essential to limit excitotoxicity and neuronal death after acute brain injury. We also identify microglia as key regulators of spreading depolarization in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms remained unexplored. Here, I propose that microglia control neuronal excitability and based on preliminary data I set out to investigate how this occurs. We will combine selective, CSF1R-mediated microglia depletion with advanced neurophysiological methods such as in vivo calcium imaging and intracranial EEG for the first time, to reveal how microglia shape activity of complex neuronal networks in the healthy and the injured brain. Then, we will study microglia-neuron interactions from the network level to nanoscale level using in vivo two-photon imaging and super-resolution microscopy. We will apply novel chemogenic and optogenetic approaches to manipulate microglia in real time, assess their role in neuronal activity changes and investigate the molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. Our unpublished data also suggest that inflammation – a key contributor to brain diseases – could disrupt microglia-neuron signaling and we set out to investigate the underlying mechanisms. By using state-of the-art research tools that had not been applied previously in this context, our studies are likely to reveal novel pathophysiological mechanisms relevant for common brain diseases.
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 chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
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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-COG - Consolidator 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-COG
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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.
1083 BUDAPEST
Hungary
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.