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Serotonin and BEYOND: Brain development research Excelling Young Ones in Neurotechnologies and Discoveries

Project description

The role of neurodevelopment in psychiatric disorders

Many neuropsychiatric disorders are treated using drugs that target the transmission of the neurotransmitter serotonin. However, the suboptimal efficacy of these drugs alongside new lines of research highlighting a role for serotonin in neurodevelopment have urged scientists to revisit the origins and treatment of these disorders. The EU-funded SEROTONIN and BEYOND project will work under the hypothesis that serotonin-related neuropsychiatric disorders are caused by neurodevelopmental changes. To address this scientific concept, the project will train early-stage researchers in state-of-the-art techniques, preparing them for a bright career in the field.

Objective

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter playing a crucial in the onset and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Most of the drugs currently used in psychiatry target serotonin (neuro)transmission. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the efficacy of these drugs is suboptimal. As a result, the prevalence and burden of these disorders remain high. A new wave of research revealed that serotonin plays important role in neurodevelopment. Changes in serotonin levels lead to changes in developmental processes with consequences for the serotonin system and beyond. This makes it plausible that the origins of these disorders do not per se lie in disturbed serotonin neurotransmission, but rather in serotonin-mediated neurodevelopmental changes. This would require a radical different view on disease burden reduction. We hypothesize that it are the serotonin-mediated non-serotonergic downstream changes in neurodevelopment that are at the basis of serotonin-related neuropsychiatric disorders. SEROTONIN and BEYOND will establish an interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international scientific network to test this hypothesis. It will enable paradigm shifts in the understanding of vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders, and provide groundwork for critical windows in development for future interventions. To achieve these goals, top-class academic and industrial scientists will train Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the full spectrum of state-of-the-art neuroscientific technical approaches. We will also equip these ESRs with translational and entrepreneurial thinking by providing intersectoral and transferable skills training. In summary, we will train a new generation of ESRs in the integrated field of serotonin, neurodevelopment and psychiatry to deliver 15 excellent young researchers who are optimally prepared for their future academic and industrial careers.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020

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Coordinator

STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 265 619,88
Address
GEERT GROOTEPLEIN 10 ZUID
6525 GA NIJMEGEN
Netherlands

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Region
Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

€ 265 619,88

Participants (11)

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