Objective
Myocardial infarction (MI) leading to ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide. In mammals, MI results in the in the replacement of the damaged myocardium with a scar. However, other animals, such as teleost fish have a remarkable capacity to regenerate damaged tissue replacing it with newly formed tissue. Recently, a zebrafish model of MI has been established. Cryoinjury (CI) of 25% of the ventricle leads to massive cell death and the deposition of fibrotic tissue. While in mammals cardiac fibrosis is irreversible, in the zebrafish the scar regresses and the injured area is replaced by new cardiomyocytes. Although the regenerative capacity of the zebrafish heart was described a decade ago, little is known about its molecular mechanisms.
The aim of this project is to analyse the fate of myofibroblast during cardiac regeneration in the zebrafish. Only few apoptotic myofibroblasts are detected after CI leaving several questions unanswered as to what happens to these cells.
Another important aspect is to understand the molecular mechanisms behind cardiac regeneration in a MI-model in zebrafish. We will test if cardiac regeneration is accomplished by the re-expression of developmentally active genes. We will study the role of the transcription factor tbx1 (involved in cardiac development in zebrafish as well as in humans), which has been identified in a recent screen performed in the host group. We will also analyse the function of molecules secreted from the epicardium. This mesothelial layer has been recently shown to play a pivotal role during cardiac repair and, given its accessibility, poses an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.
In sum, this project will characterize how in zebrafish mechanisms driving cardiomyocyte proliferation and scar formation are outbalanced to allow cardiac regeneration and propose that the findings may ultimately contribute to future therapies for the improvement of human cardiovascular health.
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.
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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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
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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
28029 Madrid
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.