Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Visualizing Death Inducing Protein Complexes

Project description

A view to cell death

Cell death is a physiological process that takes place in all organisms and is fundamental to their development, maintenance, and survival. Although cellular lifespan can vary from days to years depending on cell type, accumulating evidence has shown that most cells share common programmed death mechanisms. The key objective of the EU-funded VIDEC project is to develop novel imaging tools to decipher these mechanisms and identify key determinants in the cell death process. Given that aberrant cell death characterises various pathologies, VIDEC results will contribute to the understanding of human disease and promote healthy ageing among others.

Objective

Every day billions of cells die in our bodies as part of normal healthy processes. These cell deaths are called “regulated cell deaths” as they occur through the activation of genetically encoded molecular machinery. However, too little or too much cell death is the cause of various diseases and of illness caused by exposure to chemicals. Understanding these cell death processes and how they are controlled may lead to new treatments for disease as well as explaining why some chemicals are hazardous.

Regulated cell deaths as exemplified by apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis are induced by the formation of protein complexes. Here, we will develop new molecular tools to visualize the formation of the protein complexes in live cells and tissues and then use these tools to study cell death in normal and disease processes. Our consortium includes cell death experts, bioluminescence experts, zebrafish experts, as well as structural, developmental, molecular and cell biologists in industry and academia. The proposed research network will provide intersectoral mobility between laboratories expert in complementary skills. This will drive the development of the new tool and enhance the researchers’ career prospects.

The research is of importance to many citizens of the EC; it will contribute to increasing food security by improving aquaculture, improving the health of aging populations through the study of degenerative diseases, improving toxicity assessment to better protect citizens from chemical hazards and improving the drug-development by better identification of adverse effects. Moreover, the assays emerging from the research will be commercialized by the industrial partners in the network, so supporting economic development within the EU.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY
Net EU contribution
€ 110 400,00
Address
UNIVERSITY ROAD
H91 Galway
Ireland
Region
Ireland Northern and Western West
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 340 400,00

Participants (9)

Partners (3)