Project description
Better understanding of the visual system through melanopsin
Melanopsin is a type of photopigment that belongs to a larger family of light-sensitive retinal proteins. Recent data from studies on mice shows that melanopsin can provide the brain with information about spatial patterns during the day, thus complementing the activity of cones in the representation of larger amplitude and coarser patterns in brightness. The EU-funded MEL-ROD project aims to determine how melanopsin's role in supporting vision differs between nocturnal mice and a diurnal murid with strong cone-based daytime vision. The project plans to make use of cutting-edge technology that will allow, for the first time, patterns visible only to melanopsin to be generated.
Objective
Three types of retinal photoreceptors are responsible for light detection: rods, cones and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) containing melanopsin. Until recently, it was universally assumed that daytime vision originates with cones, dim light vision with rods, leaving ipRGCs to drive sub-conscious reflex responses to changes in ambient light (e.g. circadian photoentraiment). However, very recent data from mice has revolutionized vision science by showing that melanopsin can also provide the brain with information about the spatial patterns during the day, complementing the activity of cones in the representation of larger amplitude and coarser patterns in brightness. The proposed project is aimed to determine how melanopsin and cones work together to create images in nocturnal mice and in a diurnal murid (Rhabdomys) with strong cone-based daytime vision, respectively. We will take advantage of technological edge in multi-primary visual display (mVDU) design that allows, for the first time, patterns visible only to melanopsin to be generated. We will apply the mVDU technology to in vivo multi-unit electrophysiological recordings from the visual thalamus (the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus) and behavioural experiments on melanopsin sufficient and deficient mice created by optogenetical manipulation of ipRGCs. We hypothesize that there will be significant differences in the melanopsin contribution to pattern discrimination between chosen night and day active animals due to the difference in their retinal structure (rod-cone ratio). We believe that the proposed research will contribute to better understanding of the visual system and lead to a step change in performance of image capture and display technologies by adjusting their design to take account of melanopsin. The applicant will benefit from the project with new skills, knowledge and the experience to launch her own research group in the future.
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.
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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-2019
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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.
M13 9PL Manchester
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.