Objective
Heterogeneity within the endothelium is increasingly recognized in both normal and disease conditions, influencing vascular architecture, structure, and function. The diverse phenotypes that endothelial cells (ECs) adopt suggest substantial plasticity and indicate that heterogeneity is a core property that enables ECs to fulfill their tissue-specific tasks. However, the molecular basis for tissue-specific endothelial differentiation and heterogeneity remains largely unknown. In this project, we will study the impact of environmental context on endothelial specialization and focus on the emerging relationship between metabolism, epigenetics, and cellular differentiation. We hypothesize that organ-specific differences in endothelial metabolic state, through altered epigenetics, promote specialization and thereby contribute to heterogeneity within the vascular system. The proposal rests on the notion that many of the enzymes that erase epigenetic modifications (from DNA and histones) are exquisitely sensitive to changes in metabolism as they utilize cosubstrates that are generated by cellular metabolism. Using a combination of state-of-the-art genetics, high-resolution imaging, metabolomics, and biochemistry, we will study the role of these epigenetic mechanisms for general and organ-specific blood vessel formation (Objective I) and determine their regulation by metabolic and vascular differentiation signals (Objective II). Moreover, we will explore whether metabolic changes during obesity and aging impact the maintenance of endothelial specialization, and assess whether deregulation of metabolic-epigenetic signalling leads to endothelial malfunction and organ failure (Objective III). We trust that the knowledge gained through this project will provide a conceptual framework for understanding how environmental context can drive vascular heterogeneity and, more generally, how alterations in metabolism and nutrition might contribute to vascular-related 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 biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition obesity
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
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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-2017-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.
10117 Berlin
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.