Project description
Shrinking the autism research gap
Diagnosed before age 3 based on behavioural cues, autism is a major multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 1 in 100 child births worldwide. There is no cure and what is more, there is no one size fits all approach to autism management. The EU-funded THERAUTISM project will aim to shrink the autism research gap to expose the common molecular and cellular dysfunctions underlying autism-related behaviours. It will also investigate the possibility for a safe gene therapy vector – after it takes into account the properties of a new protein function to restore this new target and rescue social deficits in different preclinical models of autism. The aim is to validate new molecular therapeutic targets.
Objective
Autism is the major neurodevelopmental health public issue, affecting 1/100 child births worldwide. These disorders are diagnosed before the age of 3, based on behavioural cues: deficits in social interaction and communication as well as stereotyped and restrained behaviours. There is no medication to improve this condition. Most recent molecular targets identified within narrow frameworks (unspecific molecule, single tissue targeted, single disease model used) have failed in clinical trials. My first objective aims at thwarting this autism research gap, unravelling the common molecular and cellular dysfunctions underlying autism-related behaviours across several preclinical models and neuronal circuits. In particular, setting up translatomic analyses in these paradigms will identify and validate new molecular therapeutic targets. I recently deciphered one such molecular substrate, involving the loss of oxytocin transcripts in oxytocinergic axon terminals thus demonstrating the feasibility of this global approach. The second major objective of my project is to hijack the properties of a newly identified protein function to restore this new target and rescue social deficits in different preclinical models of autism. This would yield a novel and safe gene therapy vector which has never been explored before. Altogether, my research project will deliver strategic resources to the scientific and medical communities that will spur the development of new treatment options for autistic patients.
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 pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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) ERC-2019-STG
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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.
75794 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.