Project description
An in vitro cell model for cardiac arrhythmias
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have recently emerged as good in vitro models for studying tissue pathophysiology. Scientists of the EU-funded SiGNATURE project will employ iPSCs to develop cardiomyocytes and study cardiac arrhythmias, a group of conditions that are increasing in prevalence among European citizens. Using a unique 3D culture system, researchers will mature iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and investigate them at the genetic and functional level. The work will focus on two gene-associated heart diseases. The iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes will advance modelling of cell-autonomous cardiac diseases and pave the way for personalised in vitro drug screening strategies.
Objective
The incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in Europe is increasing because of aging and unexpected side effects of drugs, such as chemotherapeutics. To understand mechanisms underlying these conditions requires reliable preferably human models. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are presently good candidates since they share the genome of the individual from whom they are derived and can thus recapitulate genetic, ethnic and gender contributions to the cardiac disease phenotypes. However, their immature state and high inter- and intra-line variability is limiting their value as preclinical models.
In the proposed project, I will address these issues through an interdisciplinary approach combining a unique 3D culture maturation system developed in my host lab with my expertise in electrophysiology. I will characterize gene expression and electrical properties of single cardiomyocytes simultaneously with view to directly correlating genes with function and identify molecular markers associated with the functionally mature cardiac phenotype. Two genetic cardiac diseases (one caused by an imprinted gene, the other by a postnatally expressed splice variant) for which the host already has hiPSC lines, will be used as proof of concept that hiPSC-CM maturation in this system is sufficient (i) to reveal disease phenotypes not evident in conventional culture and (ii) to identify molecular markers suitable for selecting mature hiPSC-CMs for drug testing.
Overall, this project will provide the first functionally-relevant gene signature of (mature) hiPSC-CMs, and thus be an important advance in modelling all cardiomyocyte autonomous cardiac diseases more precisely for (personalized) drug screening. The outcome will be available to academic and private researchers to enhance rates of drug discovery and safety, and promote hiPSC-CMs as validated adult cardiac models to replace, at least in part, the use of animal models.
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 basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases cardiac arrhythmia
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
2333 ZA Leiden
Netherlands
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.