Project description
Advanced in vitro models of neurological disorders
The increasing prevalence and long-term impairments of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases necessitate novel treatments. However, this has been met with limited success due to the lack of appropriate disease models. The mission of the EU-funded ASCTN-Training project is to train young researchers in building robust in vitro models to study the mechanisms of neurological disorders. Research activities include the design and optimisation of 3D stem cell-based organoids and brain-on-chip technologies that reproduce brain circuits in vitro. The work will contribute to a better understanding of neurological disorders and is expected to accelerate drug discovery efforts.
Objective
Neuronal disorders (NDs) are associated with behavioural and cognitive impairments and have a high prevalence. As such they are a high emotional, financial and social burden on the patients and their social network.
To reduce the impact of NDs new scientific technologies and disease models must be developed, and specialized professionals are needed.
The primary aim of ASCTN-Training is to provide the appropriate training for the participating ESRs, so that each individual ESR will complete a PhD degree based on their research work, while at the same time equipping them with the necessary tools to collaborate and develop innovative technologies for the modeling of NDs and the development of novel therapies
ASCTN-Training consists of six closely interlinked Work Packages (WPs), the central theme – techniques for modeling neuronal disorders - will be executed through scientific WPs 1-3 – biotechnology, molecular neurobiology and preclinical studies - where individual ESRs will be trained together across multiple scientific disciplines. Training will be achieved using the different didactic methods in WP4 – education and training - to enable efficient work on each ESR project as well as in joint efforts with other ESRs both within and across WPs1-3.
Each ESR project is directly or indirectly linked to other ESR projects and contributes various parts to the different scientific WPs, which in turn will make a large contribution to the completion of the scientific deliverables.
The education, training and industrial secondments will provide ESRs with training in both individual scientific disciplines and inter-disciplinary fields. This approach will provide ESRs with the transferrable inter-sectorial skills and tools that will prepare them for innovative thinking and true inter-disciplinary work.
Communication, dissemination and exploitation of the results that are obtained will be achieved through WP5 while ASCTN-Training as a whole will be managed through WP6.
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Coordinator
08007 Barcelona
Spain