Project description
Reprogramming neuronal cells for brain regeneration
Neurogenesis in the adult brain is a very rare phenomenon, indicating that the regenerative capacity of the brain is limited. This has important consequences for the millions of individuals who suffer from neurological disorders. The EU-funded 4F4REJUVENGLIA project proposes an innovative rejuvenating approach to stimulate the regeneration of damaged areas of the brain. Using nuclear cell reprogramming technology, researchers will deliver four protein factors to parenchymal glia to revert cells back to neural progenitors that can give rise to new neurons. The aim is to increase the possibilities of recovering lost or damaged neurons and integrate them into the brain circuits.
Objective
Although the concept of adult neurogenesis has important implications for regenerative medicine, the formation of new functional neurons from progenitors during adult life is rare and occurs only in confined areas of the mammalian brain . Because adult neurogenesis is limited, the regenerative capacity of the brain is restrained and the possibilities of recovery from damage are almost absent.
The WHO* reported that up to 1 billion people, nearly one in six of the world’s population, suffer from neurological disorders. Many of these disorders have the loss or malfunction of neurons in common. Alongside the rapid increase of life expectancy whereby it is estimated that a quarter of Europeans will be over 60 years of age by 2020, these types of disorders are becoming a growing burden for aging societies, in terms of both suffering and economic cost. In Europe, for example, the total cost of brain disorders was estimated at €386 billion in 2004 and increased to €798 billion in 2010.
This project, 4F4REJUVENGLIA (short for: 4 factors for rejuvenating glia), focuses on a novel approach to engineer neurogenesis, based on nuclear cell reprogramming technology, to induce regeneration of damaged areas of the brain. The aim is to generate new neurons in regions naturally devoid of neurogenesis. The approach involves the overexpression of the Yamanaka factors directly in parenchymal glia, with the purpose of reprograming/rejuvenating these cells back in development in order to recover their stem cell potential lost during specification (Fig.1). We hypothesise that this “rewinding” to a neural progenitor-like state may rearrange the local environment and remodel it towards a stem cell niche that help instruct and integrate new neurons within the preexisting circuits.
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 medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology
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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 - 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.
WC2R 2LS London
United Kingdom
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.