The UK Medical Research Council are collaborating with AstraZeneca to benefit researchers of Alzheimers, cancer & rare disease
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has granted £7 million of funding for 15 research projects through its groundbreaking collaboration with AstraZeneca, which gave academic researchers unprecedented access to 22 chemical compounds. Scientists will use the compounds to study a broad range of conditions from common diseases like Alzheimers, cancer and lung disease through to rarer conditions such as motor neurone disease and muscular dystrophies.
Two teams report success for zinc-finger drugs in cells and mice
More information at the link below (HDBuzz)
The fifth plan will be broadened to include all neurodegenerative diseases
President Francois Hollande has announced that the new French Alzheimer Plan will continue to prioritise the dignity of people with dementia and the training of their carers.
The fifth Alzheimer Plan will be pursued after an evaluation of the current plan and will be broadened to include all neurodegenerative diseases.
More information at the link below (Communication from French Government) or at the new French plan website –www.francealzheimer.org
Two Calls are expected to launch in early December 2012 as part of the JPND Implementation Plan (Phase 1)
The EU Joint Programme Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) launched itsResearch Strategy in February 2012, outlining the research priorities to be addressed over the next ten years. JPND is now implementing the priorities through a range of large-scale programmatic initiatives. During the first phase of implementation (2012-2014), JPND anticipates the launch of Joint Transnational Calls each year to address high priority areas in neurodegenerative disease research*.
As the first step in implementation, two JPND Joint Transnational Calls aimed at supporting transnational collaborations in the field of neurodegenerative disease research will launch later this year. Both Calls are expected to launch in early December 2012, with a likely submission deadline of March 2013.
Further detail will be providedon this page in advance of the Call launch. However, the indicative titles of each call are provided below:
Call 1: A call for European research projects for the identification of genetic, epigenetic and environmental risk and protective factors
The objective of Call 1 is to establish innovative, multinational, multidisciplinary collaborative research projects that will add value to existing research through identifying novel genetic, epigenetic and environmental risk and protective factors associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
Call 2: A call for European research projects for the evaluation of health care policies, strategies and interventions
The objective of Call 2 is to assess and compare policies, strategies and interventions related to neurodegenerative disease care, with regard to quality, access and cost-effectiveness. Examples of areas to be evaluated include care pathways, psychosocial interventions, end-of-life strategies, and educational programmes. Studies should benefit persons with neurodegenerative diseases, and their carers/families.
Please Note: All information regarding future JPND Call topics is indicative and subject to change. Final call information will be published on the JPND website and at the link below.
* The JPND diseases are: Alzheimers disease (AD) and other dementias, Parkinsons disease (PD) and PD-related disorders, Prion disease, Motor neurone diseases (MND), Huntingtons Disease (HD), Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
JPND is leading a series of workshops on patient involvement in research initiatives
The 20th Anniversary Conference of the European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA) takes place in Amsterdam on September 29th, 2012.
The conference is being held in association with the first ever European Unity Walk – a unique event that aims to raise awareness across Europe about Parkinsons and its impact on people living with the disease, their families and our entire society.
JPND is leading the organisation of a series of research workshops during the 20th Anniversary conference entitled Patient Involvement in Research Initiatives.
For more details on the 20th Anniversary Conference, click on the first link below.
For more details on the EPDA's Unity Walk, click on the second link below.
JPND has established a monitoring and evaluation framework to develop indicators of success and monitor the merits of the new Joint Programming approach to performing research on the European level.
The framework, following the publication of theJPND Research Strategy, was created as a deliverable of theJUMPAHEAD action. It includes a set of peformance indicators and a questionnaire for participating countries to investigate attitudes and opinions towards the JPND initiative.
The framework has relevance for other Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), in particular those in other health domains, to understand the effects of the process of Joint Programming.
The published framework report, as well as an overview presentation of the report, is availablehere or at the link at the bottom of this page.
Canada has joined JPND as the first ever Third Country member. Israel joins as full member to bring total number of countries participating in JPND to 27.
At the twelfth JPND Management Board meeting on May 4th, 2012, two countries' applications for membership of JPND were accepted:
Israel becomes the 26th full member country of JPND, following the applications of Austria and Croatia earlier in 2012. Full membership of JPND is open to EU Member States and EU-Associated Countries.
In a first for JPND, Canada's application for Third Country membership of JPND was also accepted. Canada now participates in JPND according to the recently published JPNDPolicy on Third Country Participation.
This brings the total number of countries participating in JPND to 27.
JPND will be represented at the Conference Exhibition from June 17th-21st. Call over to the JPND stand.
The 16th International Conference of the Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society takes place in Dublin from 17 to 21 June 2012.
Hosted by The Movement Disorder Society, the 2012 International Congress will be valuable for clinicians, researchers, post-doctoral fellows, medical residents, medical students and other healthcare professionals with an interest in the current research and approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders.
JPND will be represented at the Conference Exhibition throughout the conference. Call over to our stand to find out more about JPND.
For more details on the 2012 Conference, click on the link below.
JPND has recently published its policy on the membership and participation in JPND activities of countries outside of EU member states and EU-associated countries
JPND partner countries recognise that the unmet clinical need and societal impact of neurodegenerative diseases is a global issue, and that opportunities exist to link to worldwide research efforts in this area.
In this regard, JPND has recently set out its approach to working with Third Countries (i.e. countries outside of EU Member States and EU – Associated Countries)
For more information, click on the link below.
JPND will be represented at the Conference Exhibition on Thursday and Friday, March 8th-9th. Call over to stand S13!
The 27th International Conference of Alzheimers Disease International is being held in London from 7 to 10 March 2012.
Hosted by Alzheimers Disease International (ADI) and the Alzheimers Society, the conference is conceived as three conferences in one, under the theme Science, Fact, Fiction.
The conference will be valuable for professionals, scientists, researchers, policy makers, people living with dementia, informal and professional carers.
JPND will be represented at the Conference Exhibition on Thursday and Friday, March 8-9. Call over to stand S13 to find out more about JPND!
For more details on the Alzheimer International Conference 2012, click on the link below.
