Optimisation of biomarkers

It is widely perceived that the availability of sensitive and specific biomarkers for the diagnosis and the monitoring of progression of neurodegenerative disorders, sufficiently robust to be used in large multicentric trials, is one of the greatest unmet needs in the field of neurodegenerative disease research.

Therefore, an immediate issue to be addressed is the development of optimally informative biomarkers to provide a solid basis for the establishment of risk-stratified patient cohorts and for upcoming multicentric diagnostic and therapeutic trials and to ensure stakeholder agreement regarding their use.

On 13 May 2011 a JPND joint transnational call was launched between 21 countries, to encourage novel approaches to the development of optimally informative biomarkers and harmonisation of their use. Applications were invited from collaborative consortia of researchers from participating countries.  More information on this call can be found here.

Four projects are currently being funded under this call. Details of individual projects can be found here and via the “Supported projects” section of this website,