Project description
Identifying the cellular perpetrator behind pulmonary hypertension
Most people likely think about blood pressure cuffs when hypertension is mentioned, but the large arteries carrying de-oxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs are also susceptible. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare progressive disorder for which there is treatment but no cure. The exact cause is unknown but research points to endothelial cells lining the small blood vessels of the lung and a role in vascular remodelling. The EU-funded EMPAtHy project is studying differences in metabolic gene expression among subpopulations of endothelial cells in PAH. Comparing effects of a new metabolic therapy on patients and on these subsets of cells could provide a clue as to which cells do what when it comes to PAH.
Objective
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease, characterized by a dramatic increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and an intense remodeling of small intrapulmonary arteries. With the exception of the lung replacement therapy, PAH remains an incurable disease with poor survival. Recent studies have shown that in PAH, rewiring of the metabolism of the lung endothelial cells (ECs) promotes vascular remodeling. However, these studies overlooked that lung ECs are exposed to diverse microenvironments in vivo (various hemodynamic forces and stimuli), which might result in their phenotypic and metabolic heterogeneity, though this has never been investigated. OBJECTIVES & EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In order to characterize, for the 1st time, the lung EC heterogeneity in PAH, identify EC subsets, and determine in an unbiased way the metabolic gene expression profiles of these EC subsets, I will use single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) on freshly isolated lung ECs from PAH patients and from an animal model of PH. As proof-of-concept, I will evaluate the effects of a new metabolic therapy on these EC subsets, in vivo, in comparison to a clinically-used, ameliorative but not curative, PAH therapy. This approach, already validated in the host lab, promises to lay the foundation of a new paradigm in PAH where lung ECs are phenotypically and metabolically heterogeneous. It will yield novel insights into PAH pathophysiology, identify specific EC subpopulations driving the vascular remodeling process as well as new potential metabolic targets. CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Combining my expertise on PAH (PhD thesis) together with state-of-the-art frontline technology (scRNA-seq) and innovative science (EC metabolism) (within the host lab) in a multi-disciplinary project and international research environment will ensure successful achievement of the project goals, enhance my scientific output and offer me a highly competitive basis for my future career in academia.
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 clinical medicine pneumology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology pathophysiology
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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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.