Project description
Towards a better understanding of the complex brain–gut connection
Some neuronal and immune cells in the intestine share anatomical features and influence each other's function, forming neuronal–immune cell units. However, whether brain-derived signals might control enteric immune functions and intestinal homeostasis has not been adequately studied. Curiously, the neurological dysfunction induced by stroke is associated with intestinal problems, including infections, inflammation and colorectal cancer. The promising preliminary data has demonstrated that stroke disrupts intestinal lymphocyte homeostasis, promoting their release from the gut to other organs. The EU-funded Neu-i-Gut project will investigate how the central nervous system affects intestinal immune homeostasis and whether brain-derived signals induce gastrointestinal disease. To that end, researchers will employ stroke and gastrointestinal disease models, together with genetic technology.
Objective
Maintenance of tissue health requires a variety of cellular and molecular networks. The immune system comprises panoplies of cell
subsets that can sense endogenous and exogenous factors to ensure efficient surveillance and defense. Similarly, the nervous
system harbors distinct neuronal populations that sense and respond to ever-changing stimuli. Interestingly, discrete neuronal and
immune cells in the intestine were shown to share anatomical confinements and influence each other’s function, forming neuronal immune cell units that act as rheostats of gut physiology. Nevertheless, whether brain-derived signals control enteric immune
functions and intestinal homeostasis remains elusive. Importantly, neurological dysfunction induced by stroke correlates with severe
intestinal problems in humans; including infections, inflammation and colon-rectal cancer.
We propose to investigate how Central Nervous System (CNS) signals control intestinal immune homeostasis and how alteration of
brain-derived signals induce gastrointestinal disease. We will explore how intestinal homeostasis and immune-mediated diseases
are regulated in the context of stroke, which is a major Public Health concern. To achieve this, we propose to employ genetic, cellular
and molecular approaches to decipher how brain signals and pathways specifically shape gastro-intestinal immune homeostasis and
what is their relevance in intestinal inflammation and cancer. To this end, stroke and gastro-intestinal disease models, together with
powerful tractable, chemogenetic technology, will be employed. Astonishing preliminary data revealed that stroke severely disrupts
intestinal lymphocyte homeostasis, promoting their exodus from the gut to other organs.
We foresee this project as groundbreaking, establishing the link between altered brain signals and intestinal physiology, shedding
light into the intricate relationships between the CNS and the gastrointestinal immune system in the context of stroke, and beyond.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology stroke
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine gastroenterology
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2018
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
1400-038 LISBOA
Portugal
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.