Objective
Spinal cord injury (SCI) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are nervous system maladies that impair the function of spinal central pattern generators for locomotion. These disorders carry a significant social and economic burden, owing to a lack of effective therapeutic treatments. In the field of nanotechnology, carbon nanotubes (CNT) have shown outstanding promise for the improvement of neuronal function in vitro and are thus ideal candidates for repairing or ameliorating spinal defects associated with these disorders. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop CNT as a tool for restoring motor dysfunctions associated with SCI and ALS. Specifically, I will use zebrafish larvae as an in vivo model for testing the therapeutic efficacy of this innovative class of implantable devices. I will implant CNT and graphene based devices in healthy, spinal cord lesioned and ALS zebrafish models and test their effects on spinal cord function with a range of powerful in vivo techniques. My project will address three specific aims. First, biocompatibility of implanted devices will be assessed using in vivo patch clamping of spinal motoneurons in healthy fish implanted with nanodevices. Second, I will implant CNT into fish that have been subjected to SCI. Nanomaterial-facilitated functional recovery will then be tested with in vivo patch clamping of spinal motor neurons, analysis of locomotor behaviour and confocal microscopy. Finally, I will use similar approaches to determine if implanted CNT can slow or reverse spinal cord defects in a SOD1 mutant zebrafish model of ALS. The project will advance our knowledge in an innovative field of bioscience research and help to inform the development of alternative approaches to the treatment of SCI and ALS. Embedded in an international environment, such as that of the University of Leicester, I will support my research activity through a greater level of independence, with the aim of publishing papers as senior author.
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.
- engineering and technology nanotechnology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy confocal microscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2016
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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.
LE1 7RH Leicester
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.