Project description
Molecular insight into oxygen sensing
Oxygen is an indispensable element of life especially for humans, where its lack can cause irreversible neurological damage in the brain. However, different animal species have evolved to adapt to and tolerate low oxygen levels in the environment. How is this tolerance mediated at the molecular level? The EU-funded OXYGEN SENSING project will use the round worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to investigate the mechanisms underlying acute oxygen sensing. The goal is to identify the factors that protect animals and allow them to survive low oxygen exposure. Results may pave the way towards novel interventions for the treatment of hypoxia consequences.
Objective
Oxygen (O2) levels can vary enormously in the environment, which induces dramatic behavioral and physiological changes to resident animals. Adaptations to O2 variations can be either acute or sustained. How animals detect and respond to the changes of O2 availability remains elusive at the molecular level. In particular, what is the precise mechanism of acute O2 sensing, what are the primary sensor for acute hypoxia, and why do neurons of various species exhibit completely different sensitivity to hypoxic challenges? The research proposed here aims at addressing these intriguing but challenging questions in the model system nematode C. elegans, which offers unique advantages to systematically dissect O2 sensing at both genetic and neural circuit levels. C. elegans responds dramatically to acute O2 variations by altering its locomotory speed. We will make use of this robust behavioral response to O2 stimulation for high-throughput genetic screens, aiming to identify a collection of molecules critical for acute O2 sensing. These molecules will be subsequently characterized in the context of a well-described nervous system of C. elegans. Our findings will offer the opportunity to shed light on conserved principles of acute O2 sensing that are operating in the O2 sensing systems in humans such as carotid body. In addition to its robust responses to O2 variation, C. elegans exhibits remarkable tolerance to a complete lack of O2, anoxic exposure. My team will thoroughly investigate anoxia tolerance of C. elegans by performing a screen for anoxia-sensitive mutants that has previously been challenging. The discoveries will allow us to delineate the molecular underpinning of anoxia tolerance in C. elegans, and to inspire other researchers to develop better strategies to cope with hypoxic challenges caused by certain diseases such as stroke and ischemia, which are the most causes of human deaths in developed countries.
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.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology stroke
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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-2018-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.
901 87 UMEA
Sweden
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.