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5.2.
European Union Joint Programming on Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND)
The EU Joint Programming for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (JPND) is an innovative collaborative research initiative created to address the growing challenges posed by these disorders. The JPND is a pioneering example of joint programming for the promotion of research within the European Union aimed at scientific challenges requiring a response that exceeds the capacity of a single country, based on the alignment of national research programs devot- ed to these challenges. Its objective is to enhance the impact of research by aligning existing national research programs and the identification of common objectives whose scope would benefit from joint action. The JPND Scientific Advisory Committee has significant participation of two CIBERNED researchers, Drs. Jesús Avila and Jesús de Pedro, as well as Dr. Angel Cedazo-Mínguez, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and member of the CIBERNED Scientific External Advisory Committee.
The Research Strategy designed by JPND provides a framework for future invest- ments and shows that the research effort within the European Union can be lev- eraged to improve care on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of patients suf- fering from these diseases.
To achieve impact there is a need to encourage novel as well as multidisciplinary approaches, and to strengthen and extend existing capabilities across the full spectrum of basic, clinical, health and social care, and translational research. To that end, a number of priority areas for future research have been identified: The origins of neurodegenerative diseases; Disease mechanisms and models; Disease definition and diagnosis; Treatment and prevention; Health and social care.
This Research Strategy also provides a framework of opportunities for countries involved in JPND and willing to participate in joint actions, which will be imple- mented through co-operative activities that realign or link national investments to achieve increased impact, and the provision of new funding. A guiding principle for its delivery will be that the research to be supported is of the highest scientific quality.
In this regard, during 2011 took place the first call for European research projects JPND. Under the theme “Optimization of biomarkers and harmonization of their use in the clinic”, four transnational projects were awarded for the period 2012- 2015, with participation of the CIEN Foundation in one of them, the DEMTEST Pro- ject: “Biomarker based diagnosis of rapid progressive dementias-optimization of diagnostic protocols”.
5. International relations
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