Project description
Multi-functional nanoparticles for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the loss of dopamine neurons and intra-neuronal accumulation of α-synuclein (αS). Delivery of certain neurotrophic factors (NTFs) to the brain stops and reverses neurodegeneration in animal models, but these NTFs do not pass through the blood-brain barrier and must be delivered using microsurgery. The strategy for curing PD is based on αS clearance and prevention of its pathological aggregation. Preliminary results showed that beta-casein-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNP) reduce αS aggregation and can be used to deliver the NTFs to the brain. The EU-funded NEUROCURE project aims to develop multi-functional AuNP-based treatment for PD that will decrease the disease progression associated with αS and support the survival of dopamine neurons, delivering the NTFs to the brain.
Objective
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder that is characterised by progressive loss of dopamine neurons and abnormal intra-neuronal accumulation of protein α-synuclein (αS). None of the available treatments have shown ability to slow down the progression of the neurodegeneration. One of the therapeutically potent approaches to combat PD is neurotrophic factor (NTF)-based therapies. Delivery of NTFs to the brain shows a notable therapeutic potential due to the ability to stop and reverse neurodegeneration in animal models. The most potent NTFs for PD therapy so far are CDNF and GDNF that have been recently studied in clinical trials on PD patients. Despite of the promising results, CDNF and GDNF does not pass through the blood brain barrier (BBB) and should be delivered to the brain through a risky microsurgery. Thus, there is a great need for an effective method that can deliver CDNF/GDNF through the BBB avoiding intracranial surgery. Another promising strategy for curing PD is based on αS clearance and control of its pathological aggregation and propagation. Our preliminary results showed that beta-casein coated AuNPs have great capacity to reduce αS aggregation and can be used to deliver NTFs to the brain. This proposal combines nanomedicine and molecular neurobiology to develop multi-functional AuNP-based medicine against PD that will positively impact the disease progression through mitigation of the parthenogenesis associated with αS and support the survival of dopamine neurons by CDNF/GDNF delivery to the brain. The applicant will get training needed for his future independent research career through hands-on training in the top scientific laboratories and by managing the highly innovative research at the interface of different disciplines connecting two excellent scientists: Prof. Saarma, a world leading molecular neurobiologist and Prof. Teesalu, an expert in homing peptides.
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.
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology nanomedicine
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology neurodegenerative diseases parkinson
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology molecular neuroscience
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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.
00014 Helsinki
Finland
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.