Human cell-type specific ion dynamics in neuroinflammation and seizures (360G-Wellcome-214042_Z_18_Z)

£94,309

Epilepsy is more common in Africa than other parts of the world due to high rates of head injuries and infection, which trigger inflammatory processes in the brain. How neuroinflammation causes epilepsy is not well understood. Disruptions in the transmembrane gradient for two key ions: chloride and hydrogen ions, are prototypic features of hyperexcitable neuronal networks. We hypothesize that neuroinflammation affects the cellular regulation of chloride and hydrogen ions, and hence seizure susceptibility in the brain. To test this hypothesis, we will utilize my expertise for measuring ionic changes in the brain together with rare access to human brain tissue donated by patients who have undergone neurosurgical procedures. Our first aim is to establish human brain slice cultures as a model system. We will then transfect different brain cell types with a genetically-encoded chloride and hydrogen ion sensor I have developed in order to generate the first baseline and activity-dependent measurements of these ions in living human neural tissue. Next we will determine how triggering an innate neuroinflammatory response in human brain slice cultures affects circuit excitability and seizure propensity. Finally, we will observe cell-type specific intracellular chloride and pH dynamics during the acute neuroinflammatory response in the human brain.

Where is this data from?

This data was originally published by The Wellcome Trust. If you see something about your organisation or the funding it has received on this page that doesn't look right you can submit a grantee amendment request. You can hover over codes from standard codelists to see the user-friendly name provided by 360Giving.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded 94309
Applicant Surname Raimondo
Approval Committee Science Seeds Advisory Panel
Award Date 2018-09-06T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2017/18
Grant Programme: Title Seed Award in Science
Internal ID 214042/Z/18/Z
Lead Applicant Dr Joseph Raimondo
Partnership Value 94309
Planned Dates: End Date 2022-02-14T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2019-02-15T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country South Africa
Region International