Project description
Understanding RNA editing in neurodegenerative diseases
The human brain controls gene expression through several mechanisms, one of the most intriguing being RNA editing. This process involves altering the nucleotide sequence of RNA, ultimately influencing protein synthesis. Disruptions in RNA editing have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NeuroEDIT project aims to investigate how RNA editing is altered in FTD. Researchers will use patient-derived cells and advanced RNA sequencing to identify editing changes that may contribute to disease pathology. Furthermore, they will explore interventions to correct aberrant editing, uncovering new targets for RNA-based therapies.
Objective
Age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD), are a major public health problem since there is no effective treatment due to the poor understanding of the pathological processes involved in neuronal death. RNA editing, particularly A-to-I changes mediated by ADAR enzymes, stands as the most prevalent form of post-transcriptional RNA modification. Emerging evidence indicates that the efficiency and pattern of RNA editing in the brain are dynamically regulated during aging and can potentially lead to some neurodegenerative diseases. Despite recent advances in the topic, much remains unknown about how ADAR enzymes regulate RNA-editing and how A to I changes are involved in the onset and development of TDP43 proteinopathies such as ALS and FTD. In ALS, previous studies have described that nuclear clearance of TDP-43 leads to ADAR2 dysregulation and downstream changes in motor neuron RNA editome. However, these results are questioned in other studies using different approaches. Moreover, the function and regulation of RNA editing have not yet been studied in FTD. To address this critical knowledge gap, I will characterize ADAR expression and processing, their protein regulatory network and localization on brain tissue and iPSC-derived from FTD patients and controls. Then, I will describe the resultant RNA editome by applying direct long-read Oxford Nanopore and Illumina RNA-sequencing technologies, coupled with new cutting-edge bioinformatics pipelines. Finally, after identifying the disease-modifying A-to-I events of interest, I will employ antisense RNA strategies to manipulate specific RNA-editing patterns to investigate their function and therapeutic potential in FTD-TDP43. Overall, NeuroEDIT will generate fundamental knowledge to understand the role of RNA editing in neurodegeneration which may result in novel therapeutic targets based on RNA technology.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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-2024-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.
20014 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN
Spain
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.