Project description
Computational methods detect rewiring of gene regulation in cancer
Just as many diseases are interlinked, many genes or parts of genes can interact together to control specific cellular functions. They play an important role in development, differentiation and response to environmental cues and are also critical to tumour development. These gene regulatory networks (GRNs) control the spatial and temporal expression of genes by controlling gene transcription into mRNA. Further, the GRNs themselves are not hardwired but can change in association with different phenotypes. The EU-funded LINKER project is applying computational methods to identify GRNs from RNA sequence data and study their rewiring in multiple myeloma and acute myeloblastic leukaemia, two important haematological malignancies. The study will include evaluating the potential prognostic utility of the novel GRN data.
Objective
Genes and their corresponding pathways form networks that regulate various cellular functions that are critical in tumor development. These networks, coined Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs), define the regulatory relationships among genes and provide a concise representation of the transcriptional regulatory landscape of the cell. Further, different phenotypes can lead to activation of different functional pathways by different global rewiring of the underlying GRNs. To uncover such transcriptional rewiring, in this project I will further advance and optimize a recent efficient computational method developed by myself, coined LINKER, aiming at uncovering GRNs from RNAseq data; and given those networks, develop efficient differential network analysis methods that will shed light into the regulatory rewiring associated with phenotype. As one of the key goals of this proposal is the translation of computational methods to advance clinical cancer knowledge, I will work with the hosting group to apply LINKER to uncover the transcriptional rewiring associated to hematological malignancies. Specifically, I will apply LINKER in a stepwise model first on available RNA-seq data from multiple myeloma and acute myeloblastic leukemia, and second to primary data from patients with these diseases provided by the hosting supervisor. Rewired GRNs between MM and normal BM plasma cells and between leukemic blast and normal hematopoietic progenitor cells, potentially implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease, will be functionally validated by state of the art gain and loss of function technologies (CRISPR/cas9). As data provided by the host institution includes clinical follow up from patients we will also examine the prognostic value of our identified GRN. I envision that LINKER will provide additional novel insights to our understanding of the key rewiring associated with these malignancies, increased by our ability to translate the discovered biomarkers to patient treatment.
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 computer and information sciences computational science
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology leukemia
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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-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.
31008 Pamplona
Spain
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.