Page 65 - Annual Report 2018

3. SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

the creation of a European DNA biobank of Alzhei- with the development of a non-genetic test adap-
mer's disease (EADB). In this study, over 30,000 AD ted to the hospital diagnostic routine for measuring
cases and 40,000 controls in 11 countries will be blood ApoE4 as a marker for determining the AD risk
analyzed. GWAS and complementary statistical and that has currently obtained the CE label.
analyses will be carried out (based on genotype
and imputation data) in order to identify the missing Other collaborations
heritability and pathophysiological mechanisms of
the disease. • Assessment of lactoferrin levels in saliva as a
marker of Alzheimer's disease in collaboration
This initiative will increase the number of AD samples with Drs. Eva Carro and Félix Bermejo from the
12 de Octubre Hospital
available in Europe more than four times and
around the world by almost two-fold. Carrying out
• Study of the role of lipofuscin in
this project will allow us to understand the genetics
neurodegeneration in collaboration with Dr. A
of AD thus improving our knowledge of the underl-
Kun from the University of the Republic, Uruguay
ying pathophysiological processes in the disease;
since the genetic factors seem to represent up to • Study of the participation of the A peptide in
80% of the attributable risk in AD. In parallel, the gliogenesis and proliferation in human neural
EADB will collect DNA samples from the largest Euro- stem cells with Dr. I. Liste from the Carlos III
pean longitudinal cohort of cases of mild cognitive Health Institute.
impairment, with the aim of identifying genetic mar-
kers that modulate the rate of disease progression Contribution to BT-CIEN
and cognitive decline. From a translational pers-
pective, the identification of genetic factors in the The Molecular Genetics department also contribu-
pathways that modulate AD risk and increase the tes to the BT-CIEN with processing of various samples,
rate of disease progression/cognitive decline will be and collaborates on several external projects focu-
critical for the development and testing of thera- sed on Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegene-
peutic approaches. Additionally, in the context of rative diseases.
the DEGESCO consortium, collaboration has begun
with the GR@ACE project, led by the ACE Founda- In the context of research focused on the study of
tion, which will be carried out in three years, and biomarkers and genetic susceptibility factors, the
whose objective is the application of high resolution UIPA Laboratory department is responsible for co-
genomic technologies for the identification of a new llecting, processing and storing biological samples
generation of genes that contribute data in the de- for research related to various projects or for its de-
sign of new treatments to deal with Alzheimer's posit in the BT CIEN, whose ultimate purpose is to use
disease. in different research areas on neurodegenerative di-
seases.
In relation to the study of biomarkers and the colla-
borative context with the company Biocross SL and Currently, the department contributes to BT-CIEN
with various Spanish hospitals, we continue with the with various biological samples including 463 CSF
plasma metabolomic studies of people with Alzhei- samples from donor's brain and 315 skin samples.
mer's disease, mild cognitive impairment or without
cognitive dysfunction. In addition, we also continue

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