Objective
The objective of this project is to develop and validate biomarkers of pneumo- and nephrotoxicity resulting from exposure of European populations to urban air pollutants. The project builds open and further develop the results of a previous project supported by the Environment & Climate research programme.
The development and validation of biomarkers that have a sufficient toxicological relevance to be used for health
risk assessment is a key aspect to an effective prevention of environmentally-induced diseases. The present
project represents a further step in this research effort by placing the emphasis on two approaches: first, a
mechanistic approach aimed at identifying those early alterations that reflect a critical step on the development
of an irreversible chemical-induced disease and second, a multi-target organ approach focused on two organs
which are known to be vulnerable to environmental pollutants: the lung and the kidney. The scientific rationale
for this orientation is that chemicals and especially mixtures of chemicals usually can affect several organs
among which it is important to single out the most sensitive one (i.e. the critical organ).
The present project has four main tasks: 1. Complete the batteries of peripheral markers for detecting pneumo and nephrotoxic effects of chemical pollutants. This applies mainly to the lung for which only one peripheral
biomarker of toxicity is presently available (Clara cell protein). 2. Establish the health significance of early
renal or pulmonary effects of environmental pollutants through a biochemical and functional characterisation
of the markers and mechanistic studies exploring their role in pathological processes. 3. Determine whether
effects on the kidney and the respiratory tract induced by some pollutants (e.g. VOCs) are temporarily related
and initiated by (or at least involve at a certain stage) common molecular mechanisms (e.g. involving the
immune system). 4. Assess the early effects of selected pollutants (especially urban air pollutants) on the
respiratory tract and the kidney using validated peripheral biomarkers of toxicity. This last will be pursued
according to two complementary approaches: 1) experimental studies on animals chronically exposed by
inhalation to low levels of selected air pollutants (ozone and N02) and 2) cross-sectional studies on subjects
exposed to urban air pollutants in the European Community.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- engineering and technology environmental engineering air pollution engineering
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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.
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.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
1200 BRUXELLES
Belgium
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.