General
In response to the first call for project proposals in 2007, the Center for Translational Molecular Medicine (CTMM) announced on April 1, 2008, that nine first-call projects would receive research funding amounting to a total of 150 million Euro. On March 10, 2009, it announced that eight new project proposals, submitted in the fall of 2008 in response to the second call for proposals, will receive funding amounting to a total of almost another 100 million Euro.
All Dutch university medical centers, plus several universities, a broad spectrum of small and medium-sized enterprises, major industry leaders including Philips and Schering-Plough, and the Dutch Government are involved.
The funding is provided by the Dutch government, industry and academia. The research is focused firmly on the ‘translational’ aspects of molecular medicine so that results can be applied as quickly as possible to actual patient care.
LeARN is one of the projects from the first call.
In vivo molecular diagnostics in Alzheimer's Disease
– LeARN (Leiden – Alzheimer Research Nederland), Leiden
Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. M. A. van Buchem
CTMM Program manager: Henny Bruinewoud
Age-related cognitive impairment and dementia impose an increasing burden on aging Western societies in terms of diminished quality-of-life and high healthcare costs (approximately Euro 3 billion annually in the Netherlands).
Memory loss is often regarded by patients as an indication that they may have Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), although in practice it is also a symptom of many far less serious conditions. An important challenge is therefore to differentiate those patients who will not develop dementia (who can thus be comforted) from those who will develop full-blown AD with dementia (for whom healthcare should be provided).
This project aims to develop new instruments with which to:
- make an earlier and more reliable diagnosis of AD during life
- create the conditions for an effective evaluation of novel medication therapies of AD patients
This will be achieved by developing:
- new imaging techniques that will use ultra-sensitive MRI and PET to visualize ‘senile plaques’ in the brains of AD patients
- new technologies that allow visualization of glutamate neurotransmitter molecules as well as the receptors to which glutamate molecules bind
- novel technologies that allow for the identification and quantification of biomarkers for AD in cerebrospinal fluid
The project will also study the mechanism of action of potential novel drugs through the development of essential biomarkers. In addition, the diagnostic tools listed above will be tested for their (additional) value in the diagnostic process of AD patients.
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Prof. Mark A. van Buchem is a professor of neuroradiology at the department of Radiology at the Leiden University Medical Center. He was trained as a radiologist and obtained his PhD degree on a thesis on leukostasis in leukemia. His research group uses (molecular) imaging techniques to study cerebral aging, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), migraine and Alzheimer's disease. |
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Prof. Mark A. van Buchem:
"This CTMM grant enables establishing a unique collaboration in the Netherlands focused on Alzheimer's disease. The combination of well-documented patient populations, cutting-edge facilities, and complementary expertise in one strong, coherent research program will give a major impetus to Alzheimer research in the Netherlands."
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Industrial partners:
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Academic partners:
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Universitair Medisch Centrum St. Radboud
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Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+)
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VU Medisch Centrum (VUmc)
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Leids Universitair Centrum (LUMC)
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Status of the Learn project end of 2009:
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