Project description
Following a stem cell on its journey to becoming a neuron
The Human Genome Project identified all the genes present in the human genome, providing a list of building blocks that make us human. However, how those blocks are combined – which genes are expressed when and in which cells – is critical to identifying functions and it is particularly important during stem cell differentiation. The EU-funded SCAPA project plans to add its piece to the puzzle, shedding light on gene expression during differentiation of neuronal cells. Scientists are using high-tech methods to track a well-known pathway controlling gene expression, alternative polyadenylation, that can affect the availability of RNA binding sites. Analyses could point to molecular targets controlling gene expression during neuron development with exciting potential for new therapies.
Objective
Understanding how stem cells differentiate into the myriad of cell types that compose an organism is a fundamental question in biomedical sciences. The recent development of single-cell transcriptomic techniques has already allowed the study of the cell composition of organs and tissues, developmental stages, and even whole adult organisms. Yet, in most cases, these studies are primarily descriptive and often provide little insight into the mechanisms regulating gene expression during cell differentiation.
Here, I propose to study the role of alternative polyadenylation (APA) and associated RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in neuronal differentiation. For this purpose, I will: (i) develop new computational tools to detect and quantify APA events from single-cell transcriptomics data; and (ii) perform a single-cell-based functional CRISPR screen. The results obtained from this study will provide an in depth analysis of the changes in gene expression and APA during neuronal differentiation at a single cell resolution and identify dozens of APA targets specifically associated with individual RBPs.
Together, this study will provide a solid molecular knowledge of the role of APA in neural differentiation, enabling the development of new personalized medicine therapies, which is in compliance with the Horizon H2020 Health demographic change and wellbeing programme.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences health sciences personalized medicine
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
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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.
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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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
08003 Barcelona
Spain
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.