Interactions between oxidative stress and the activation of mitogenic signalling in alzheimer's disease

Objective

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, places an increasing medical, social and economic burden on the European society. Neither treatment nor possibilities to prevent or delay the onset of the disease are available. The present multidisciplinary approach to be conducted as a multicoated study of eight groups on a European scale combines expertise in molecular biology, genetics, neurochemistry, neuromorphology, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology and behavioural biology. Interactions between oxidative stress as a major driving force of degeneration and the activation of mitogenic signalling as a critical trigger of neurodegeneration in AD modified by interactions and epistemic effects of AD-related genes will be studied. Research will be based on new models of the disease that allow to analyse the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms underplaying neurodegeneration, to identify molecular switches that critically determine the fate of a neuron after injury and to test potentially protective strategies. Aiming at the definition and design of a future rational and effective prevention and/or treatment of AD, anticipated deliverables will contribute to an improvement of the quality of life of the aging population.

Programme(s)

• FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002

Topic(s)

• 1.1.1.-6. - Key action The Ageing Population and Disabilities

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAET LEIPZIG

Address

Ritterstrasse 26
PF 100920 Leipzig
Germany

Participants (8)

CENTRUM BADAN MOLEKULARNYCH I MAKROMOLEKULARNYCH POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK

Poland

Address

112,Sienkiewicza 112
90 363 Lodz

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA

Spain

Address

Immaculada 22
08017 Barcelona

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE

Sweden

Address

Novum, Kfc Plan 4
141 86 Stockholm

RUHR-UNIVERSITY BOCHUM

Germany

Address

Universitaetsstrasse 150
44780 Bochum

UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE

Italy

Address

Piazza San Marco 4
50121 Firenze

UNIVERSITY OF KUOPIO

Finland

Address

Savilahdentie 9
1627 Kuopio

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

United Kingdom

Address

NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne

WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

Israel

Address

Herzel Street 2
P.O.Box 26 Rehovot