Combat the disorders of the ageing brain
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Lunds universitet - Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, Lund |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 400 000 |
| Project duration | December 2014 - September 2015 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The purpose was to address the huge future socio-economic challenges posed by the disorders of aging brain: Alzheimer´s disease (AD), Parkinson´s disease (PD) and stroke. The goal was to form a national network encompassing stakeholders from academia, the innovation systems, industry and the healthcare systems, with a joint strategic agenda that will formulate a road map to accelerate the process for research- and demand-driven innovations/projects and to facilitate collaborations, thus, increase collaborative efforts and the output of innovations in the area.
Results and expected effects
The strengths, weaknesses, needs and opportunities to attain the goals was analyzed from the perspectives of academia, the innovations systems, the industry and health care systems. A comprehensive action plan is proposed that aims to (1) identify new treatments (pharmacological, neuromodulatory or behavioral therapies), (2) identify biomarkers for early diagnosis of disease, or improved brain imaging algorithms, (3) improve clinical trial protocols and (4) outline novel models to how to finance the innovation process.
Approach and implementation
The agenda was accomplished by transboundary meetings among representatives of academia, the innovations systems, innovation companies, industry and the health care system. The work supported by a steering group comprising world renowned Swedish scientists in the field of brain disease, representatives of successful Swedish small and medium size companies, the global pharmacological industries, and the health care system. Individual aspects of the road map - form idea to new treatment - was addressed at workshops and face to face as well as virtual meetings.