£30 million initiative for innovative approaches to neurodegeneration research
2 October 2008
Encouraging collaboration between research groups and bringing together different disciplines, the initiative aims to enable scientists to better understand the causes of neurodegenerative diseases, leading to improved early diagnosis and more effective therapies.
Neurodegenerative diseases represent a significant burden on patients and carers, as well to wider society and the economy. As the elderly population increases worldwide, this burden is set to increase further.
Although treatment options are already available for some conditions, these are generally of very limited effectiveness and treat the symptoms rather than preventing onset. The development of new therapeutic approaches is therefore essential. Alongside this, identifying markers to allow for the earliest possible diagnosis will maximise the effectiveness of preventative measures and optimise the use of current treatments.
Now, the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are joining together to fund innovative new research programmes. Up to £30 million will be available to fund a limited number of high-quality interdisciplinary consortia to study the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases with a view to increasing effective diagnosis, management and treatment of these conditions.
"Neurodegenerative diseases can be devastating for those affected and for their families and friends," says Dr Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust. "As the number of people suffering from these diseases, and in particular age-related neurodegeneration, increases, there is an important need to develop new treatments and ways of identifying the diseases in their early stages. This will only come with a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the diseases."
Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chief Executive of the MRC, says: "The partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council will pave the way for new innovative research to help prevent the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and develop more effective methods of treating them. Our research partnership, which will provide more opportunity for further collaboration across Europe, is a huge step towards achieving an earlier diagnosis of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s and improving the lives of the many people affected by them."
The funding initiative is aimed at leading UK research groups, potentially collaborating with international research groups, who can bring together disciplines that will help address the gaps in scientists' knowledge of the biological basis of neurodegenerative disease. These include neurophysiology, neuropsychology, clinical medicine, epidemiology, biochemistry and cell biology.
Proposals are welcome from principal investigators based at academic institutions within the UK and Republic of Ireland who are recognised international leaders in their field. Preliminary applications should be submitted by 12 December 2008. Further information is available on the Wellcome Trust’s Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases web pages.
Image: Illustration of the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease; Medical Art Service, Munich/Wellcome Images.
Contact
Craig Brierley
Media Officer
Wellcome Trust
T +44 (0)20 7611 7329
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c.brierley@wellcome.ac.uk
The Medical Research Council Press Office
T 0207 637 6011
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press.office@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Notes for editors
1. The Wellcome Trust is the largest charity in the UK. It funds innovative biomedical research, in the UK and internationally, spending over £600 million each year to support the brightest scientists with the best ideas. The Wellcome Trust supports public debate about biomedical research and its impact on health and wellbeing.
2. The Medical Research Council supports the best scientific research to improve human health. Its work ranges from molecular level science to public health medicine and has led to pioneering discoveries in our understanding of the human body and the diseases that affect us all.