Project description DEENESFRITPL Targeting skin innervation for psoriasis treatment Skin diseases are the most common human illnesses, with a third of the world population affected at any given time. The EU-funded NEUROSKIN project aims to determine how different skin innervations affect psoriasis, representing the largest class of skin conditions mediated by inflammation. The research will utilise a transgenic mouse model that enables optogenetic control of local peripheral innervations using light. The NEUROSKIN will take advantage of this tool to develop additional transgenic models relevant to cutaneous neuronal subpopulations. The models will allow control of the activity of neurons innervating the psoriatic plaques at different stages of the disease, providing potential new neuronal targets for interventions to treat inflammatory skin conditions. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Skin disease is one of the most common human illnesses. At any given time, approximately one out of three individuals is affected by skin disease and it is the 18th leading cause of health burden worldwide. Despite this profound impact, skin disease continues to receive relatively little attention in global health forums, and the etiology of most of these conditions is unclear. The skin is our major interface with the external world, densely innervated with sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. Thus, neuromodulators are involved during all phases of skin damage and healing. Nevertheless, we do not fully understand the interaction between skin innervation and skin pathologies. More importantly, the therapeutic potential contained in cutaneous innervation has not been exploited. NEUROSKIN will determine how different skin innervations affect psoriasis, a major skin disease, representing the largest class of skin conditions, those that are mediated by inflammation. We will utilize a transgenic mouse model that enables optogenetic control of local peripheral innervations using light. This model was developed as part of our ERC STG to characterize the involvement of peripheral innervation on gut inflammation. In NEUROSKIN, we will extend this tool to develop additional transgenic mice relevant to cutaneous neuronal subpopulations. In these mice, we will control the activity of neurons innervating the psoriatic plaques at different stages of the disease. This will allow us to map potential of targeted neuronal interventions to treat inflammatory skin conditions. Such characterization is expected to introduce an entire set of therapeutic tools based on neurological manipulations, and allow us to repurpose drugs and other technologies (e.g electrical and magnetic simulation) for the potential treatment of skin disorders. Moreover, NEUROSKIN will introduce a new toolbox that will enable the entire community to study the involvement of skin innervation in skin functions. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringfibersmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-PoC - ERC Proof of Concept Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant Coordinator TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Senate building technion city 32000 Haifa Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Israel Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Senate building technion city 32000 Haifa See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
