Connecting brain science & business

The strategy for the new EU Joint Programme for Neurodegenerative Disease research (JPND) was officially launched in Brussels on February 7. Nansen Neuroscience Network was there.

The JPND is the first of the European Joint Programming initiatives which are designed to address the 'grand challenges' facing EU society in the coming years. These challenges are considered beyond the scope and resources of any one country to tackle.

Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating and largely untreatable conditions that are strongly linked with age. Amongst these disorders, the dementias are responsible for the greatest burden of disease, with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders affecting some 7 million people in Europe, and this is expected to double every 20 years as the population ages. It currently costs in the order of €130 billion per annum to care for people with dementia across Europe, highlighting age-related neurodegenerative disease as one of the leading medical and societal challenges faced by our society.

At the launch of the JPND Strategic Research Agenda were (L to R) Mogens Horder, Danish Council for Strategic Research; Edvard Beem, The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development; Philippe Amouyel, INSERM, France; Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science; Thomas Gasser, University of Tubingen & German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE); Enda Connolly, Health Research Board, Ireland. Photo: JPND.

• To develop new treatments and preventive strategies
• To improve health and social care approaches
• To raise awareness and de-stigmatize Alzheimer 's and other neurodegenerative disorders

JPND is working to implement these goals through:

• Building capacity in excellent basic, clinical and healthcare/social research
• Coordinating and aligning European and national research activities
• Translating research evidence into clinical, social and public health practice
• Partnering with industry, patient, carer and health service stakeholders, and decision makers

Nansen Neuroscience Network was present at the meeting and had interesting discussions with several members of the management board. On behalf of our members we will play a proactive role and facilitate collaborations and the formation of consortia.

According to verbal information at the meeting, the next topic for the JPND will be available in May this year and the next call is likely to come this year.

Visit the JPND website

By Stein Lorentzen-Lund, Nansen Neuroscience Network

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