Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has obtained two ERC Starting Grants in the latest call of the European Research Council (ERC). These prestigious grants are aimed at young researchers with promising scientific careers who wish to launch excellence projects in Europe.
ASTROCODE: Deciphering the “astrocytic code”
The ASTROCODE project (Unravelling the Astrocytic Code: Investigating the Role of Astrocytes in Information Processing), led by Mario Martín-Fernández, seeks to unravel the role of astrocytes in the brain’s cognitive functions. Traditionally, neuroscience research has focused on neurons, considered the key cells involved in processes such as thought, memory, and learning. However, in recent years, it has been discovered that astrocytes—a type of glial cell once thought to be mere support elements—also play an active role in regulating neural circuits.
The project proposes to use two-photon microscopy in freely moving mice to analyze how astrocytes respond to stimuli of different valences and whether they are capable of generating their own representations of information. In addition, it will study how the activity patterns of these cells influence the selection of adaptive behaviors. With this innovative approach, ASTROCODE aims to determine whether astrocytes are integral elements in information processing and to open a new path for understanding the brain’s cognitive mechanisms.
ActivEAR: Discovering the energy source of hearing
The second funded project, ActivEAR (Watts in my ear? Unravelling the power source of mammalian hearing), is led by Francesco Gianoli. His research focuses on a key mystery in physiology: how our auditory cells (only about 16,000 in each ear) are able to capture a wide range of sounds (from a faint whisper to a loud thunderclap) and at frequencies faster than those of other senses, such as vision. Since the mid-20th century, it has been known that the ear has an active process that amplifies sounds and can even emit sounds outward (so-called otoacoustic emissions), now used in clinical practice. Nevertheless, the precise cellular mechanisms that make this possible remain unknown.
ActivEAR seeks to overcome this barrier through two tools developed by the researcher: a photonic pressure technique capable of applying forces at previously unreachable frequencies; and a new bio-chamber that allows the delicate active process of the ear to be preserved under laboratory conditions. Thanks to these innovations, the project aims to identify the cellular mechanism that underpins hearing, clarify the origin of otoacoustic emissions, and provide a revolutionary tool for the study of the auditory system. Its results could have an immediate impact on the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, a condition affecting billions of people worldwide.
Research excellence at UC3M
These two research projects are the only ones in the field of neuroscience and nervous system disorders awarded in Spain, out of the 28 obtained by Spanish institutions in this ERC call. UC3M, which presented its neuroscience knowledge map a few months ago, inaugurated earlier this year its new Faculty of Health Sciences. This faculty offers programs such as the Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience—the first of its kind at a Spanish university—and the new Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences.
These newly awarded research grants highlight UC3M’s commitment to research excellence. In total, UC3M has secured 20 ERC projects since the program was launched (10 Starting Grants, 7 Consolidator Grants, and 3 Proof of Concept), with total funding exceeding 33 million euros.