Marie Breau¹ and Alain Trembleau² have obtained MRSEI funding (a funding instrument dedicated to the setting-up of european or international scientific networks) from the ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche). This funding will further support them to assemble an interdisciplinary consortium. The final objective will be to create a joint research program on the mechanical forces involved in neural development and repair.

Their application to this funding followed the "neuromechanics” meeting, organized in October 2018 with the support of the IBPS. This funding will enable them, as coordinators, to build an interdisciplinary consortium, called "neural mechanics", to work on this topic. They will then respond to the European call H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020. If funded, the consortium will develop a joint multidisciplinary, intersectoral and international research program, organised around three main objectives:

• Deciphering the role of forces and rigidity in neural development
• Analyze the response of neurons to mechanical stress
• Exploit mechanics to design new neural and prosthetic repair strategies.

Through the development of this research program the consortium will train a new generation of about 15 early stage researchers (ESRs) able to address multidisciplinary challenges in the emerging field of neural mechanics. 

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¹Team Mechanics of neuronal development (UMR 7622)

² Team Development and plasticity of neuronal networks (UMR 8246, Neuroscience)