Objective
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. While psychological stress is a known cardiovascular risk factor, the mechanism by which the brain translates stress into CVD is poorly understood. The underlying cause of CVD is a chronic inflammatory disease called atherosclerosis, the progression and exacerbation of which have been strongly associated with the immune system, including B cells. B cells perform many functions including production of antibodies that provide immunity against disease and cytokines that modulate leukocyte function. However, it remains unknown whether B cells mediate the effects of stress on CVD. Recent studies from Prof. Filip Swirski’s lab show that stress profoundly affects the number and distribution of B cells in the body via a mechanism dependent on the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In this proposal, I will test the hypothesis that stress aggravates atherosclerosis by modulating B cell function. To recapitulate stress, I will employ a combination of optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches available in the Swirski lab to target specific regions in the brain and characterize the subsequent impact on the phenotype and functional diversity of B cells. I will then identify the B cell-specific mechanisms that mediate the effects of stress on the progression of CVD in Prof. Christoph Binder’s lab, thus facilitating the transfer of knowledge between USA and Europe. With the combined complementary expertise of the two labs, this project will be the first demonstration of the use of state-of-the-art neurological tools to address cardio-immunological questions with a systems biological approach. This approach will not only delineate potential therapeutic targets for immunomodulation of B cells in preventing and treating CVD, but will also provide a direct mechanistic link between stress and chronic inflammation, a general concept with implications beyond atherosclerosis.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences health sciences inflammatory diseases
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases arteriosclerosis
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
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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-2020
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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.
1090 Wien
Austria
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.