Objective
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a diffuse inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Neuroinflammation destroys the myelin sheaths wrapped around the axons and may lead to axon degeneration. Repair processes trigger re-myelinisation. Myelin loss delays or blocks signal propagation along axons in white matter tracts, impairing neuronal integration within the affected brain network. The exact relationship between the amount of axonal de- and re-myelination and the resulting network dysfunction is still poorly understood. Using a rat MS model, I will bridge the scales from the cellular to the network level, to disentangle how myelin loss and axonal degeneration leads to network dysfunction. My approach integrates three lines of research: (i) I will prospectively perform diffusion MRI and quantitative MRI to assess the temporal dynamics of microstructural changes in axon diameter and myelin content in the lesioned white matter tract. Leveraging state-of-art expertise at DRCMR, I will optimize MR sequences and biophysical models to create an optimized axon diameter and myelin mapping framework. (ii) In parallel, I will perform resting-state and task-based functional MRI to trace the resulting changes in functional connectivity at the network level. (iii) Building on my expertise, I will combine functional MRI with optogenetics and simultaneous intracellular calcium (and trans-membrane voltage) recording to characterize in detail the functional impact of axonal damage in the lesioned white matter tract on well-defined cell circuits in the inter-connected cortical areas. This unique multimodal approach will yield novel MRI-based biomarkers that are sensitive and specific to primary demyelination and axonal degeneration on the one hand and reparatory processes such as remyelination on the other hand. These biomarkers will have great potential for monitoring disease activity, informing personalized treatment in patients with MS.
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
- engineering and technology materials engineering fibers
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology multiple sclerosis
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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.
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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-EF-SE - Society and Enterprise panel
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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-2018
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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.
3400 Hillerod
Denmark
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.