Objective
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, manifested by a progressive loss of synaptic connectivity, neuronal death and memory impairment. AD affects 1 out of 10 Europeans aged over 65. There are no effective therapies for AD, in part because there is no proven molecular explanation of the steps leading from initial neuronal changes to synaptic defects and cognitive consequences.
The two major hallmarks of AD pathology, Abeta plaque deposition and neurofibrillary tangles, arise from increased proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and microtubule destabilization due to tau hyperphosphorylation, respectively. Recent data indicates that generation of a beta-C-terminal fragment (b-CTF) of APP acts as a signalling event that induces tau phosphorylation and pathological redistribution of tau from axons to dendrites of neurons. This proposal tests the contribution of proteolytic APP processing, tau phosphorylation and synaptic dysfunction to AD in a human disease-relevant system using neurons generated from human induced-pluripotent stem cells (hIPSC) of AD patients. This hypothesis will be addressed by the following objectives 1) identifying the trafficking and signalling events that control b-CTF to tau signalling 2) define molecular interventions that inhibit b-CTF to tau signalling 3) asses downstream effects of b-CTF induced tau-phosphorylation on tau redistribution, dendritic function and synaptic connectivity.
I will use state of the art microscopy and biochemical analysis combined with a short-hairpin screening approach in established neuronal lines (hereditary AD patient neurons) to identify key pathways involved in abnormal tau phosphorylation, and molecular and electrophysiological techniques to asses dendrite function and synaptic connectivity. This project will contribute to a better understanding of molecular events in AD pathogenesis and will potentially identify novel molecular targets for the treatment of AD.
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 neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
You need to log in or register to use this function
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-2013-IOF
See other projects for this call
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
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands
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.