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H2020Doctoral network2019–2024

ZENITH · ZEbrafish Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Training Hub

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2019-10-01 → 2024-03-31
EU contribution
€4,096,014
Participants
22
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

ZEbrafish Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Training Hub

A fundamental challenge for Neuroscience is to understand how neural circuits process information from the outside world and internal physiological states, to produce versatile but reliable behaviour. Two major research challenges are: 1) the complexity and distributed nature of neural circuits; 2) the need for data spanning multiple scales from molecular and activity phenotypes of single cells through to circuit connectivity and population dynamics and finally the behavioural output itself. The goal of the ZENITH is to understand how neural networks mediate perception and behaviour. The project exploits the advantages of zebrafish and Danionella as small transparent vertebrates with superb genetic accessibility and uses cutting-edge technology to elucidate the interactions between molecules, cells and entire networks that ultimately generate adaptive behaviour. ZENITH aims to promote collaborative, interdisciplinary young scientists who can tackle major challenges within neuroscience research. The program trains 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs), hosted by 13 labs, which undertake projects that address major questions in neuroscience. Our research will involve the design and application of cutting-edge optical systems that utilize wavefront shaping, fast volumetric imaging and adaptive optics. These innovations will be developed in partnership with high tech European SMEs who will not only contribute technical expertise but will also enable the systems to be broadly disseminated. Our principal training objectives are: 1. Interdisciplinary training: ESRs will be trained in complementary sets of research skills, drawing upon the distinct expertise of their supervisors and supported by innovative workshops involving collaborative team work. 2. Focus on spanning across levels of nervous system operation: from molecules to cells, cells to networks and networks to behavior. 3. Emphasizing the need to integrate data into analytical frameworks: extensive use of modeling to interpret results and guide further experimentation. 4. Reinforcing skills in intellectual property, ethics, scientific communication 5. Introducing young researchers to career opportunities in industry

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

A fundamental challenge for Neuroscience is to understand how neural circuits process information from the outside world and internal physiological states, to produce versatile but reliable behavior. Two major research challenges are: 1) the complexity and distributed nature of neural circuits; 2) the need for data spanning multiple scales from molecular and activity phenotypes of single cells through to circuit connectivity and population dynamics and finally the behavioral output itself. The goal of the ZENITH ETN, “ZEbrafish Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Training Hub”, is to understand how neural networks mediate perception and behavior. We will exploit the advantages of zebrafish as a small transparent vertebrate with superb genetic accessibility and use cutting-edge technology to elucidate the interactions between molecules, cells and entire networks that ultimately generate adaptive behavior. Our training goal is to create collaborative, interdisciplinary young scientists who can tackle major challenges within neuroscience research. Training in cutting-edge technologies and analytical frameworks will enable this next generation of researchers to perform integrated, multi-scale analyses to elucidate the neural basis of naturalistic behavior. Training is centered on highly collaborative projects between physicists, mathematicians and biologists that will expose ESRs to broad training with academic and industrial partners. Advanced optical methods and genome-editing will be utilized to link molecules to circuits, to map connectivity between cell types across the nervous system and to build computational models of brain activity that will be experimentally tested. Overall ZENITH will help to change the way young scientists are trained in Europe and provide the conceptual, technical and analytical skills needed to take on the challenge of understanding how the beautifully complex circuits of the vertebrate brain control behavior.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • INSTITUT DU CERVEAU ET DE LA MOELLE EPINIERE · ParisCoordinatorFrance
  • CHARITE - UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN BERLIN · BerlinGermany
  • FUNDACAO D. ANNA DE SOMMER CHAMPALIMAUD E DR. CARLOS MONTEZ CHAMPALIMAUD · LISBOAPortugal
  • FUNDACIO CENTRE DE REGULACIO GENOMICA · BarcelonaSpain
  • IMAGINE OPTIC SA · OrsayFrance
  • INSTITUT SERVIER D'INNOVATION THERAPEUTIQUE · GIF-SUR-YVETTEFrance
  • Intelligent Imaging Innovations GmbH · GöttingenGermany
  • MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV · MUNCHENGermany
  • MILTENYI BIOTEC BV & CO KG · Bergisch GladbachGermany
  • OSHA LIANG · ParisFrance
  • PHASEVIEW · Verrieres Le BuissonFrance
  • PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE · CambridgeUnited States
  • SORBONNE UNIVERSITE · ParisFrance
  • SPRINGER NATURE LIMITED · Basingstoke HantsUnited Kingdom
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN · MuenchenGermany
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH · EdinburghUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSIDAD POMPEU FABRA · BarcelonaSpain
  • UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA · LisboaPortugal
  • UNIVERSITAT WIEN · WienAustria
  • UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON · LondonUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · Salt Lake City UtahUnited States
  • ZECLINICS SL · SANT FELIU DE LLOBREGATSpain

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union