Objective
Nervous system evolution involved multiple cellular innovations, enabling fast synaptic transmission,
novel sensory modalities, and complex forms of neural connectivity. These innovations were
distributed to an ever-increasing number of neural cell types, each specified and maintained by the
combinatorial activity of transcription factors. When, where, and how did this complexity arise?
This proposal aims at resolving the history of cell type diversification that led to this complexity, from
the birth of the first neurons to the many families of neuron types that exist today. Our emphasis will
be on reconstructing the cellular diversity in the ancestor of bilaterian animals and finding the key
molecular innovations that drove early nervous system complexity.
Towards this aim, we will first use whole-body single-cell RNAseq, in combination with a spatial
expression atlas at cellular resolution, to comprehensively characterise cell types in the model annelid
Platynereis dumerilii, a genetically tractable, slow-evolving bilaterian. We will then generate and
compare similar datasets from diverse bilaterians and non-bilaterian outgroups to map the history of
neuronal cell type diversification and infer the key regulatory and functional innovations that gave
rise to the first bilaterian nervous system. For several such regulatory innovations, we will
experimentally validate transcription factor binding to effector gene loci via superresolution
microscopy and chromatin immunoprecipitation. We will also investigate neuron family-specific
protein complexes, their subcellular localization, and neural functions via biochemical and proteomics
approaches, correlative microscopy and loss-of-function analyses.
This analysis of neuronal cell type diversity will for the first time trace the evolutionary history of
nervous system complexity, unravelling when, where and how key neuronal innovations have driven
the success of bilaterian nervous systems.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
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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-ADG - Advanced 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-ADG
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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.