Objective
An important morphogenetic event of mammalian embryogenesis is the formation of a blastocyst with a fluid-filled cavity, blastocoel, and the establishment of three cell types essential for implantation. Morphogenesis of the blastocyst begins with the emergence of multiple nascent cavities, which progressively coalesce to form one cavity segregating the cavity-facing primitive endoderm from the epiblast within the inner cell mass. While cell-to-cell gene expression heterogeneity is well characterised during this lineage specification, little is known about the physical principles governing self-organized blastocyst morphogenesis and patterning. In particular, changes in fluid pressure, cell shape and polarity during blastocyst formation remain uncharacterized. In this project, I will study the roles of fluid cavities in coordinating tissue mechanics, polarity and lineage specification. I will establish a novel micropressure technique to quantify the growth of luminal pressure during blastocyst development. Combining micropipette aspiration with high-resolution live-embryo imaging, I will characterize the impact of fluid pressure on trophectoderm fate specification through dynamic changes in cell shape and adhesion, and cytoskeletal remodeling. To assess the impact of fluid pressure on inner cell mass, I will study if cavity expansion induces apical polarisation and enhances primitive endoderm differentiation in cavity-facing cells. Combining laser ablation with light-sheet microscopy, we will build a spatio-temporal map of intercellular forces in vivo during blastocyst development. We will further manipulate the cavity size to study if fluid pressure is functionally required and sufficient for driving lineage segregation. This interdisciplinary and quantitative study will establish the novel role of fluid cavities and elucidate their interplay with biochemical signaling within the multi-cellular self-organization process.
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 developmental biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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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.1.3. - 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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2016
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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.
69117 Heidelberg
Germany
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.