Three research projects with Polish participation were awarded funding in a call launched by the JPND network. The National Science Centre allocated nearly 3.4 million zlotys for research projects on the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease development.
The JPND network (EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research) has published the results of its call for international research projects aimed to understand the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease development and advance measurability of disease progression at early and pre-symptomatic stages.
10 projects selected under JPND Call 2024 have undergone a scientific peer review evaluation that resulted in a funding recommendation from the international panel of experts. The call was open to international research consortia comprising at least three research teams from at least three countries.
The winning projects with Polish participation funded by the NCN:
1. IGNITEMIND – IgLON5: NeuroInflammatory Tauopathy and Encephalopathy: the Model for Inflammation towards early treatment of NeuroDegeneration
- Principal investigator of the Polish research team: Dr Natalia Małek-Chudzik, Wrocław University of Science and Technology
- Project carried out in collaboration with Austrian, Dutch and German partners
Researchers will investigate the malfunctioning components of the immune system that contribute to the development of rare anti-IgLON5 disease leading to an autoimmune attack on the brain. The study will examine the immune system’s involvement across all stages of the disease. The results could pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting some types of dementia.
2. Expand-RED – Exploring the impact of somatic expansion rates on quantitative progression marker candidates (Voice) in early stages of Repeat Expansion Disorders
- Principal investigator of the Polish research team: Dr Grzegorz Witkowski, Militarty Institute of Aviation Medicine
- Project carried out in collaboration with Czech, Dutch, Canadian, German and Italian partners
The project aims to advance the measurability of neurodegenerative diseases progression (e.g. Huntington’s disease and spinocerebellar ataxia). Researchers will study speech changes within patients in early and even presymptomatic stages, using a number of tools to investigate speech and analysing selected biomarkers. Researchers will also investigate speech changes and their correlation to other motor disorders in such diseases.
3. SPARC-AD – Integrating multimodal, multiscale imaging and artificial intelligence for early amyloid detection in their native environment
- Principal investigator of the Polish research team: Prof. Aleksandra Szczepankiewicz, Poznan University of Medical Sciences
- Project carried out in collaboration with Canadian, German and Swedish partners
Researchers will study the structure of amyloids, i.e. abnormal brain lesions consisting of specific proteins contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. For that purpose, advanced imaging techniques combined with artificial intelligence (AI) will be employed to identify various types of amyloids and changes in their structures. The project could develop new methods of detecting Alzheimer’s disease.