Project description
An innovative treatment for Alzheimer’s disease
In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), production of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein from the Aβ precursor protein exceeds its clearance rate, leading to the aberrant accumulation of the former into amyloid plaques. These toxic forms of Aβ induce neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, leading to the loss of cognitive functions in AD patients. The EU-funded Protambbody project proposes to guide Aβ peptide clearance by the selective proteosome degradation system of the cell. This novel approach presents a promising disease-modifying strategy for AD and offers an alternative to current, unsatisfactory efforts promoting immunisation against the Aβ peptide.
Objective
The amyloid-beta (A) protein arises from the sequential proteolytic cleavage of A precursor protein (APP). The accumulation of A oligomers has been regarded as the causal factor of Alzheimers disease (AD). Basal metabolic production of the A peptide is typical in healthy people, and its production rate is normally lower than its rate of clearance. In AD, the uncontrolled accumulation of toxic forms of A stemming from problems in its clearance and degradation results in memory loss, chronic neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. AD is a leading cause of disability and death both in Europe and the world, and currently has no cure or clinically-proven disease-modifying therapies.
There are over 10 million new cases of dementia each year worldwide (up to 80% of which are due to AD), implying one new case every 3.2 seconds. In Europe, about 10 million people currently suffer from this disease and about 50 million in the world; with these estimates projected to double by 2050. Thus, the identification of novel disease-modifying therapies has become very critical to eradicating AD from Europe and the world. My project proposes a radically novel approach in the AD field of utilizing the bodys cellular waste disposal system to selectively degrade A peptide, the causative agent of AD. This is in sharp contrast to the current approach of immunization against the A peptide, which has repeatedly failed to yield any cure or disease-modifying therapies for AD.
This project will aim to identify the specific cytotoxic A peptides responsible for neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in human induced pluripotent stem cells and target these peptides for degradation by the ubiquitin proteasome system. Emphasis will be on the cytotoxic A peptides of intracellular origin as emerging targets in AD. This research will be conducted at the University of Helsinki, Finland, followed by a non-academic placement at Roche Diagnostics GmbH.
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
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology neurodegenerative diseases dementia alzheimer
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunisation
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.