Project description
The role of macrophages in CNS inflammation
The parenchyma of the central nervous system (CNS) contains membranes known as meninges, where macrophages reside. Emerging evidence indicates that these cells have the ability to detect microbes and recruit other immune cells to the CNS. The EU-funded MacMeninges project aims to study how these macrophages respond to microbial challenges and how they contribute to CNS inflammation, a potentially lethal condition. Using a combination of techniques, researchers will investigate the impact of ageing on CNS immune responses. Ultimately, the goal is to design interventions to restore meningeal immunity and treat neuroinflammation.
Objective
Immune responses within the central nervous system (CNS) can drive fatal neuroinflammation and age-related neurodegeneration as seen in the EU but are also crucial to prevent microbial spread into the CNS. It is thus important to understand and control the parameters involved in CNS inflammation. Most studies have focused on the contribution of immune cells localized within the CNS parenchyma. While searching for novel strategies to control neuroinflammation, we and others have found that the nature and activation state of immune cells at the brain surface can profoundly influence CNS inflammation. The parenchyma is enveloped by membranes referred to as the meninges that harbor a vast network of macrophages juxtaposed to blood vasculature, thus ideally positioned to detect pathogens and orchestrate immune cell recruitment into the CNS. The overarching goal of this project is to understand the role of resident meningeal macrophages in initiating and controlling CNS inflammation. To this end, I intend to study the heterogeneity of myeloid subpopulations at steady-state and their differential ability to mount an immune response following a microbial challenge. Furthermore, I will define how natural inflammatory aging impairs the induction of CNS immune responses by meningeal macrophages, and will propose strategies to restore CNS immunity at the brain borders to protect this vital organ. This will be accomplished using combinatorial approaches, including transcriptomics, flow cytometry, histo-cytometry and intravital imaging. Macrophages will be manipulated using transcranial drug delivery and transgenic mice. Sharing skills, expertise, and tools with my host institution will be a key component of this project. Understanding meningeal immunity will open avenues for the treatment of CNS inflammation and neurodegeneration, in line with the H2020 goals of promoting research excellence in the EU to deliver solutions to important societal challenges.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
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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-RI - RI – Reintegration panel
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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.
75654 PARIS
France
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.