CHICAGO and NEW YORK and TORONTO and LONDON, March 5,
2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Together, leading funders of
research in the U.S., Canada and
U.K. are advancing a global funding initiative aimed at better
understanding the similarities and differences between progressive
brain-deteriorating diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's,
with an expanded partnership and increased funding.
The program, Biomarkers Across Neurodegenerative Diseases
(BAND), is a joint initiative of the Alzheimer's Association and
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in the U.S.,
the Weston Brain Institute in Canada, and Alzheimer's Research UK, which
joins the collaboration as the program makes available a second
round of research grant awards.
The new funding cycle will offer nearly $2 million USD (£1.3m/$2.5m CDN) for projects investigating the overlap
in the biology and clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's,
frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other brain-deteriorating
diseases, which together affect tens of millions of people
worldwide. Projects supported by BAND will compare data across
these diseases, including genetic information, brain changes
detected through imaging tools including PET and MRI scans, and
measures of symptoms such as memory problems or physical
tremors.
Each BAND-funded project must include a clear focus on
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, or one of the two plus another
neurodegenerative disease, such as FTD. BAND encourages the use of
specific existing data sets on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and
frontotemporal dementia, as well as collaboration among researchers
with diverse expertise.
"This type of cross-disease analysis may uncover new biological
targets for tracking risk, onset or progression of these diseases,"
said Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., Chief
Science Officer for the Alzheimer's Association. "In this way, BAND
may help advance discovery of vital new clues for developing
treatments."
"Our ongoing participation in the dynamic BAND program reflects
our unwavering commitment to filling the gaps and accelerating
funding for novel approaches to targeted research into these
progressive and debilitating brain diseases, which have now reached
global epidemic proportions," said Alexandra Stewart,
Executive Director, Weston Brain Institute. "Our hope is that by
better understanding how these diseases overlap, we can guide the
development of therapies that are effective in treating not only
one, but multiple conditions." The Institute's funding will go to
grants awarded to Canadian researchers.
"A collaboration such as BAND promotes research efficiency,"
said Mark Frasier, Ph.D., Senior
Vice President of Research Programs at The Michael J. Fox
Foundation. "Expanding investigation beyond a single diagnosis
opens the door to new discoveries, which can only benefit drug
development and thereby the millions of patients who need new
therapies."
"Alzheimer's Research UK is pleased to be joining the
initiative, which we hope provides a vital new understanding of
Alzheimer's and other brain diseases," said Simon Ridley, Ph.D., Head of Research at
Alzheimer's Research UK. "With growing numbers of people affected
by neurodegenerative diseases, investment in research is crucial if
we are to transform people's lives. Charities have an important
role to play in this fight and we are proud to be part of this
collaborative effort to boost global research."
BAND is open to applications from scientists around the globe.
The new round of funding will provide up to $150,000 USD (£98,000/$188,225 CDN) for each two-year research project;
it is anticipated that awards will be made in October 2015. More information about how and when
to apply for funding through this program is available at
www.alz.org/BAND.
The program's inaugural round of $1.3
million USD (£85,000/$1.6m
CDN) in funding was granted in September 2014 and supports nine
projects:
1) Genetics, Biomarkers and
Mendelian Randomization to Identify Common Pathway
Carlos Cruchaga, Ph.D., Washington University in St.
Louis
2) Degeneration
of the Human Connectome: Brain Networks in ADNI and PPMI
Gautam Prasad, Ph.D., University of Southern California in Los
Angeles
3) Subcortical
Shape Analysis for Joint Biomarker Discovery
Boris Gutman, Ph.D., University of Southern California in Los
Angeles
4) Cortical and
Functional Distinctions in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease
Swati Rane, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center in
Nashville,
TN
5) Variations in
Brain Functional Complexity Across Neurodegeneration
Norbert Schuff, Ph.D., University of California, San
Francisco
6) Estimating
Long-Term Disease Trajectories
Michael Donohue, Ph.D., University of California, San
Diego
7) Biomarkers for
Personalized Treatment of Neurodegenerative Spectrum Disease
Corey McMillan, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
8)
Brain Networks as Targets of Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's and
Alzheimer's
Alain Dagher, M.D., McGill
University in Montreal
9)
Interpreting Disease Heterogeneity in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Disease
Mallar
Chakravarty, Ph.D., Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's
Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in
Alzheimer's care, support and research. It is the largest nonprofit
funder of Alzheimer's research. The Association's mission is to
eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research;
to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to
reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Its vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Visit
www.alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research
As the world's largest nonprofit funder of
Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to
accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies
for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues
its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research
program coupled with active global engagement of scientists,
Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial
participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding
more than $450 million in research to
date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of
progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide
Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking
collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and
government research funders; increases the flow of participants
into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox
Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile
advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots
involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For
more information, visit www.michaeljfox.org.
About the Weston Brain Institute
The Weston Brain
Institute is Canada's largest
privately funded national initiative aimed at accelerating
breakthrough discoveries for the treatment of neurodegenerative
diseases of aging, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Institute directly
supports Canada's world-class
neuroscience research community and focuses on high-risk,
high-reward projects, independent of commercial potential, that
address the existing translational gap in neurodegenerative
research using an innovative fast-track granting model. The
Institute is supported by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
www.westonbraininstitute.com; twitter: @westonbrain; facebook:
WestonBrainInstitute
About Alzheimer's Research UK
Alzheimer's Research UK
is the UK's leading charity specialising in finding preventions,
treatments and a cure for dementia. We rely on donations to fund
our vital dementia research. To help us defeat dementia, donate
today by visiting www.alzheimersresearchuk.org or calling 0300 111
5555. We are currently supporting dementia research projects worth
over £23 million in leading Universities across the UK. Our Defeat
Dementia campaign, a pledge to raise £100 million in five years to
grow the research field and accelerate progress towards new
treatments and preventions, was announced by the Prime Minister at
the G8 legacy event on 19 June
2014.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-research-funders-build-on-global-initiative-with-new-nearly-2-million-commitment-to-study-commonalities-of-neurodegenerative-diseases-300046331.html
SOURCE Alzheimer's Association