Objective
Stem cells fascinate us from their defining characteristics; extensive proliferative potential and an ability to give rise to one or more differentiated cell types. The mechanisms that stem cells use to accomplish self-renewal promise fundamental insight into the origin and design of tissues. The Host laboratory is working for a long time on a very powerful model that is epidermis. The epidermis is a multilayered epithelium, which is punctuated by hair follicles and glandular structures. In human interfollicular epidermis, there are discrete clusters of stem cells; their transit amplifying progeny are proposed to migrate along the basement membrane away from the stem cell compartment. Stem cells are located in a specific microenvironment called a niche that is thought to be responsible for maintaining their selves properties. One element of the stem cell niche is likely to be the extracellular matrix. There is a growing body of evidence for heterogeneity in the composition of the basement membrane underlying the epidermis. We will test the hypothesis that local variation in the composition of the basement membrane could thus play a role in establishing and maintaining the distribution and properties of stem cells. In the first part of the project, I will document the composition of the ECM underlying epidermal stem cell clusters. Then, I will check the role of specific regions of the basement membrane in selectively anchoring stem cells. Finally, I will investigate whether the profile of ECM proteins produced by epidermal stem cells and their differentiated daughters differ. First, I will benefit from the facilities in the Cancer Research UK institute as well as the strong technical background of the Host laboratory. This project will allow me to expand my knowledge by discovering a physiological model the epidermis and to develop my technical expertise in the field of cell biology. To investigate the involvement of the components of basement membrane in the stem cells maintain, I will use both cell biology (primary cultures, transgenic mice, retroviral infection, Histological staining, confocal microscopy) and biochemical techniques as FACS sorting, northern blotting. Second, a position in the lab of Dr WATT lab would allow me to broaden my knowledge and acquire a high level of expertise in the mechanisms of keratinocyte differentiation. The Host laboratory will benefit from my technical experience in the field of signal transduction and microscopy. Finally, the proposed project will give us an insight into components of the epidermal stem cell niche leading to envisage new therapeutic strategy.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy confocal microscopy
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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)
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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.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
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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
WC2A 3PX LONDON
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.