Project description
Mapping viral brain infection and advancing therapies for neuroinflammation
Viral infections of the brain are difficult to manage because they are hard to track and most antiviral drugs cannot effectively cross the blood-brain barrier. As such, little is known about brain infections such as HSV-1-related neuroinflammation. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NEUROVISTA project studies how the HSV-1 virus spreads in the brain and triggers neuroinflammation, a process that may be linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Whole-brain imaging technology will be used to create maps of virus distribution and related immune responses. At the same time, the project will test nanoparticle-based antiviral therapies designed to improve drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. The overall goal is to explore new targeted treatment strategies.
Objective
NEUROVISTA (Neuroinflammation and Virus Imaging for Smart Therapeutic Approaches) aims to elucidate the mechanisms of HSV-1-induced neuroinflammation and evaluate nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategies using advanced whole-brain imaging. HSV-1 is a neurotropic virus linked to herpes simplex encephalitis and potentially to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Current treatments are limited by poor blood-brain barrier penetration and lack of tools to visualize viral spread and inflammation in vivo.
This project integrates virology, nanomedicine, neuroscience, and imaging across three objectives: (O1) mapping HSV-1 distribution and neuroinflammation using light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) and optical projection tomography (OPT); (O2) developing antiviral-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA-NP) incorporating carrageenans; and (O3) testing nanoparticle efficacy in cellular and animal models. NEUROVISTA combines human-relevant neural models (SH-SY5Y), in vivo mouse models, and high-resolution imaging to generate quantitative datasets on viral tropism, neuroinflammatory markers, and therapeutic impact.
The fellowship will train the researcher in BSL-3 virology, advanced microscopy, and data analysis, while promoting two-way knowledge exchange with the host lab. Results will be disseminated through open-access publications, international conferences, and public engagement activities. NEUROVISTA contributes to European priorities in translational neuroscience, infection biology, and therapeutic innovation, offering a novel interdisciplinary platform to study virus-induced neurodegeneration and develop targeted interventions.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology nanomedicine
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases viral diseases DNA viruses
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
901 87 UMEA
Sweden
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.