Project description
Rare genetic variants associated with neurodegeneration
Microtubules (MTs) constitute part of the cell's cytoskeleton and are implicated in key biological processes such as cell division and intracellular vesicle trafficking. Emerging evidence indicates that the tubulin cofactors TBCE and TBCD, implicated in MT dynamics, may also be involved in early-onset neurodegeneration. The EU-funded INNERVATE project will use zebrafish as a model to study the TBCE and TBCD pathogenic mechanisms and impact on brain physiology. Scientists will monitor in real time MTs behaviour and cellular processes in neurons of zebrafish TBCE and TBCD mutants. Results will provide important information on genetic variants associated with neurodegeneration.
Objective
Circa 30 million people in Europe suffer from life-threatening rare diseases, which are poorly understood. This major societal burden forces patients into endless paths for a diagnosis often without cure. EU cooperation efforts between countries contribute to improve research and visibility of these diseases with a primary role of the ‘Ospedale pediatrico Bambino Gesù’ (OPBG, Italy). Here, via next generation sequencing technology, Dr. Tartaglia recently described new genetic variants, including some in the tubulin cofactors TBCE and TBCD which alter microtubules (MTs) dynamics (crucial for brain development and maintenance) and cause previously undescribed early onset neurodegeneration. Yet the underlying pathogenic mechanisms and impact on the brain physiology remain elusive. Given the difficulty to reproduce brain physiology in vitro and its general inaccessibility, a vertebrate model amenable to genetic and whole-brain in vivo investigation is necessary. With its rapid and transparent development and genetic and imaging tools improving continuously, the small teleost fish zebrafish is ideal. I will monitor live MTs behaviour and cellular processes (e.g. cell division, axons formation and innervation) in the precursor and mature neurons of zebrafish TBCE and TBCD mutants, focusing on motoneurons. To this aim, I will combine my expertise in fish neurobiology with the host’skills in human genetics (Dr. Tartaglia) and fish gene editing (Dr. Del Bene, France). In line with the current EU efforts, this work will advance our understanding on rare genetic variants causing neurodegeneration. Deciphering the role of MTs dynamics on brain physiology will be relevant also for common brain disorders and exome sequencing of undiagnosed patients will further contribute to a genotype-phenotype catalog. Via an intensive transfer of knowledge, the project will increase EU multi-disciplinary competence on rare disorders in general, providing new models for therapy development.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine medical genetics
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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-ST - Standard EF
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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.
00165 ROMA
Italy
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.