Objective
First-line immunomodulatory treatments such as beta-interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) for multiple sclerosis are available to reduce the rate of relapses and disease activity. However, in addition to its therapeutic effect, systemic IFN-beta treatment causes severe neuropsychiatric complications in humans, including depression and cognitive impairments. These side effects are common and can limit the treatment utility. Our long-term goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of these unwanted side effects in order to improve IFN-beta therapy. The specific hypothesis is that systemically applied IFN-beta exerts adverse side effects by activation of the respective receptor of type I interferons (IFNAR) in the central nervous system (CNS). To identify the actual cell type targeted by IFN-beta in the brain, we have generated brain-specific and glia-specific IFNAR-deficient mice. With the help of these animals we will determine which interferon-stimulated genes will be activated in the brain upon systemic IFN-beta application. We will further assess the contribution of central IFNARs to IFN-beta mediated “sickness” behavior, which includes depressive-like behavior and cognitive impairment and we will correlate these behaviors to changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Together, these experiments will be crucial to identify neurobiological mechanisms responsible for the unfavorable side effects accompanying IFN-beta therapy and to evaluate interventions to ameliorate them.
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 multiple sclerosis
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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.
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.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG
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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.
Coordinator
79106 Freiburg
Germany
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.