Project description
3D model of blood-brain barrier to study cerebral malaria pathology
Malaria is a major public health concern with more than 400 000 deaths per year. Cerebral malaria (CM) is characterised by sequestration of infected red blood cells in the brain microvasculature, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and brain swelling, resulting in high mortality. The EU-funded Mal3D-BBB project aims to model the human CM pathology with cutting-edge in vitro bioengineering approaches. The researchers will develop BBB models with 3D microfluidic networks that incorporate multiple cell types: brain microvascular endothelial cells, astrocytes and pericytes. The developed platform aims to recreate physiological BBB permeability rates, and will be used to understand the molecular mechanisms of BBB disruption after P. falciparum sequestration, and whether parasite and host factors synergise to increase pathology.
Objective
Malaria is a major public health problem and it still causes more than 400,000 deaths per year. Cerebral malaria (CM) is one of the most serious complications, with 20% mortality rates even after administration of fast-acting antimalarials. CM pathology is characterized by sequestration of P. falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBC) in the brain microvasculature, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and brain swelling.
Our current knowledge of CM is primarly based on autopsy studies, because of the absence of suitable animal models. However, there are numerous pathogenic aspects that cannot be studied from post-mortem samples, such as disease progression. In Mal3D-BBB, we bypass these limitations by recreating the human CM pathology with cutting-edge in vitro bioengineering approaches. Rather than using 2D endothelial monolayers, we will develop BBB models with 3D tubular geometry that incorporate multiple cell types: brain microvascular endothelial cells, astrocytes and pericytes. We will mimic vessel dimensions and flow dynamics of the brain vasculature with the goal to recreate physiological BBB permeability rates. Using such technology brings a unique angle to malaria research to evaluate in a controlled and systematic way 1) the molecular mechanisms of BBB disruption after P. falciparum sequestration, and 2) whether parasite and host factors synergize to increase pathology. The findings obtained by this cutting-edge technology will be further validated in samples from CM patients, whose neurovascular pathology has been thoroughly characterized using MRI.
Our interdisciplinary approach aims to provide a holistic understanding of CM malaria pathogenesis. In return, this knowledge will identify new pathways that could be counteracted to develop therapies to reduce patient mortality. In a broader context, we will build an innovative platform that captures the complex physiology of the BBB, and can be translated to the study of other neurovascular diseases.
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 health sciences infectious diseases malaria
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics geometry
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2020-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
69117 Heidelberg
Germany
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.