Objective
This project will undertake pre-clinical and cohort studies that address susceptibility factors for paediatric and adolescent tic disorders, with a particular focus on comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, from clinical, epidemiological, genetic, microbiological and immunological angles. EMTICS aims to elucidate the complex aetiology of the onset and clinical course of chronic tic disorders and associated obsessive-compulsive symptoms, through disentangling the interplay between environmental factors and genetic background; translate research findings into clinical applications by developing disease prediction models and investigation of a treatment strategy; and will establish a Pan-European infrastructure for the study of tic disorders. We hypothesise that the onset and/or exacerbation of tic and comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorders is associated with increased preceding occurrence of Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) infections of specific molecular subtypes, and that this association is based on genetic susceptibility factors and mediated through immunological mechanisms related to psychosocial stress and immunological factors in host and GAS strains. Large-scale cohort studies will involve affected patients and at-risk first-degree relatives within an integrated, multidisciplinary research strategy. Treatment effects of active surveillance and standardized antibiotic treatment of GAS colonisation, thus addressing one of the main environmental factors involved (GAS infections) will be evaluated. Our approach will result in the identification of genetic and environmental susceptibility factors and will greatly contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of tic disorders, with a focus on elucidating the role of autoimmunity. Our consortium brings together the highest expertise in the field of tic disorders across Europe in academia and industry, including a number of SMEs and a professional management company.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
FP7-HEALTH-2011-two-stage
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Funding Scheme
CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research projectCoordinator
9713 GZ Groningen
Netherlands
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Participants (29)
70121 Bari
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WC1E 6BT London
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80539 Muenchen
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8108 Dallikon
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00161 Roma
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SW1W 9SZ London
01069 Dresden
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691 00 Komotini
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OX4 4GA Oxford
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53100 Siena
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62098 Tel Aviv
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B15 2TT Birmingham
00185 Roma
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2300 Turnhout
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E1 4NS London
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95131 Catania
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82256 Furstenfeldbruck
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Participation ended
20251 Hamburg
1021 Budapest
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41071 Sevilla
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8006 Zurich
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08036 Barcelona
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3400 Hillerod
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30625 Hannover
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SE1 7EH London
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70123 Bari
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23562 Lubeck
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LS2 7UE Leeds
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1105AZ Amsterdam
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