Objective MEMOSAD aims at defining the molecular mechanisms of Abeta- and Tau-induced synaptotoxicity and at developing disease-modifying therapeutics for the prevention of memory loss in Alzheimer disease (AD). Insoluble aggregates of the two proteins provide the pathological hallmarks of this incurable brain disorder. Early stage AD is characterized by a remarkably pure impairment of declarative memory and several lines of evidence suggest that this memory impairment is independent of the insoluble aggregates, does not require neuronal death and is caused by subtle and transient synaptic changes. The toxic Abeta and Tau species that cause synaptic dysfunction, their mechanism of toxicity and the link between both pathologies remain largely unknown, but recent data suggest that Abeta accumulation triggers Tau pathology. Consequently, primary neuronal cultures and animal models (C.elegans,zebrafish,mouse) will be employed to define the pathologic pathways leading from Abeta through Tau to synaptotoxicity. Initial experiments will investigate the effect of well-defined Abeta species on long term potentiation, synaptic morphology, gene expression, Tau phosphorylation/aggregation, axonal transport and behaviour. Similarly, we will investigate the functional consequences of Tau misfunction, aggregation, hyperphosphorylation and missorting in various cell culture systems (retinal ganglion cells, primary hippocampal neurons, organotypical slices) and animal models, especially with regard to intraneuronal trafficking and synaptic function. Once the toxic Abeta and Tau species are known and their mechanism of toxicity are defined, we will investigate how these pathways interact. Unravelling the pathologic pathways that lead from Abeta through Tau to synaptotoxicity and memory loss should reveal novel points for therapeutic intervention. Our aim is to deliver 3 or 4 validated therapeutic targets and at least 2 compounds with demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in mouse models of AD. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologydementiaalzheimermedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology Keywords Abeta-mediated toxicity Alzheimer memory loss tau-mediated toxicity therapeutic targets Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH-2007-2.2.1-4 - Memory loss: underlying mechanisms and therapy Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2007-A See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator VERUM- STIFTUNG FUER VERHALTEN UND UMWELT EU contribution € 333 496,00 Address THERESIENSTRASSE 6-8 80333 MUENCHEN Germany See on map Activity type Other Administrative Contact Franz Adlkofer (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all VIB VZW Belgium EU contribution € 420 000,00 Address SUZANNE TASSIERSTRAAT 1 9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Wim Goemaere (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Germany EU contribution € 420 000,00 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Elke Spader (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Université Lille 2 Droit et Santé France EU contribution € 420 000,00 Address Rue Paul Duez 59000 LILLE See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Marie Gompel (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN Ireland EU contribution € 419 804,00 Address BELFIELD 4 Dublin See on map Region Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Donal Doolan (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Germany EU contribution € 239 996,00 Address GESCHWISTER SCHOLL PLATZ 1 80539 Muenchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Mathias Becker (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURG Germany EU contribution € 240 000,00 Address FAHNENBERGPLATZ 79098 Freiburg See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Gabriela Hafke-Wessel (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONA Spain EU contribution € 240 000,00 Address EDIF A CAMPUS DE LA UAB BELLATERRA CERDANYOLA V 08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Katja Schustakowitz (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Belgium EU contribution € 200 400,00 Address OUDE MARKT 13 3000 Leuven See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Marion Wolpers (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SENEXIS LTD United Kingdom EU contribution € 65 000,00 Address Babraham Research Campus CB22 3AT CAMBRIDGE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Mark Treherne (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data