Objectif
Schizophrenia is one of the most severe and common mental disorders and a major challenge to health sciences in the European area and worldwide. Recent advances in neuroscience have shown disturbances of brain structure and function in schizophrenia. The genetic component is, however, complex and poorly understood. For this purpose, twin studies are a powerful approach in identifying endophenotypes, i.e. specific heritable biological markers, which might differentiate subgroups of schizophrenia with distinct genetic underpinnings, brain pathology, clinical course, and treatment response.
The EUTwinsS consortium is a multidisciplinary network of European partners using neuroimaging, neurophysiology, and neurocognitive methods, as well as molecular genetics approaching the problem of schizophrenia by studying twins with this disease. It aims to combine several EU collaborations into the largest twin study on schizophrenia so far. The scientific programme of EUTwinsS will consist of studying both the phenotype (e.g. brain structure, cognitive function etc.) as well as the genotype (e.g. specific genetic markers) in this unique sample to allow the combination of multiple approaches to evaluate potential endophenotypes. Identifying how specific genes influence brain structure, function and cognition in order to predispose to schizophrenia will help to better understand this devastating disease.
At the same time, EUTwinsS is a training network serving the need for state-of-the-art training in a highly multidisciplinary field involving scientists from various backgrounds. EUTwinsS will combine a number of high-quality practical training with a broad background in neuroscience, as well as problem-based approaches. Local training in the participating centres will be combined with yearly workshops and on-line tutorials delivered through a purpose-built eLearning system, a web-based forum fostering a virtual community of young European researchers.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular genetics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neuroscience
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabases
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepsychiatryschizophrenia
Appel à propositions
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-1
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