Objective
After fertilisation, the human embryo undergoes several divisions forming a free-floating blastocyst, which implants into the endometrium a week later. Implantation failure is responsible for 40-70% of pregnancy losses and is caused by the inability of the blastocyst to form a trophoblast envelope that embeds in the endometrium, but little is known about the regulators of trophoblast development during this critical time. Moreover, the deep embedding of the human blastocyst, termed interstitial implantation, is a unique human feature and considered to be the newest evolutionary innovation, distinct from the ancestral superficial mechanisms.
We hypothesise that the formation of the deeply embedded trophoblast envelope is regulated by the activity of specific transcription factors (TFs) that govern cellular ability to proliferate and migrate. Given that interstitial implantation has evolved mainly in Great apes, we hypothesise that evolutionary changes in the genetic sequences of Cis-Regulatory Elements (CREs) controlling the activity of these TFs have contributed to deep embedding. To test our hypotheses, we will model implantation by placing human blastoids on hydrogels containing endometrial cells and generate multiomics data from implanting trophoblasts to model their gene regulatory networks (GRNs). We will functionally validate TFs central to these GRNs using genetically engineered blastoids. Next, we will use a neural convolutional network model to select CREs whose change in accessibility correlate with the depth of embedding in dierent species. Finally, we will validate the functions of these CREs using genetically engineered blastoids in our implantation model.
This project aims to identify key regulators of trophoblast development during implantation and to clarify how genetic sequences impact implantation outcomes, providing insight into the fragility of human pregnancy.
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 zoology mammalogy primatology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine obstetrics
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
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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
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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.
1030 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.