The ERC Consolidator program is designed to support researchers in the consolidation phase of their own research team or program and who have between 7 and 12 years of experience since obtaining a PhD. Grants of a maximum of 2 million euros are offered for five years. This year, 2,274 proposals have been submitted and 314 grants have been awarded with a total amount of 605 million euros. Ten of the researchers work in Catalan centers.
This is the second time that the IDIBAPS receives a Consolidator Grant. The first was last year, for Jaime de la Rocha, head of the group Dynamics of cortical circuits, to study the mechanisms of neural circuits related to cognitive functions such as perception, decision making and memory.
Neurons and metabolism
Marc Claret's team studies the molecular mechanisms that allow the brain to know the body's energy status and activate metabolic responses to suit its needs. The hypothesis is that the mitochondria of certain populations of neurons of the hypothalamus could be responsible for this sensor function of the energy needs of the organism.