European funding of 200 000€ for the GIGA-CRC for Neurodegenerative Diseases Research
Spinocerebellar ataxias are a group of diseases of dominant hereditary progressive ataxia, characterized by a wide variety of brain pathologies, clinical expression and disease course. The brain pathology of spinocerebellar ataxias is centered on the degeneration of the brainstem and the cerebellum which begins several years before the onset of clinical symptoms. Recently, new therapeutic approaches have been developed but their evaluation requires highly sensitive biomarkers linked to the disease. Indeed, these biomarkers must be able to detect subtle abnormalities several years before the onset of symptoms and must reflect disease progression with a higher sensitivity than the clinical scales and biomarkers available.
I
n collaboration with the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE, Bonn) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Trondheim), GIGA-CRC-IVI has secured funding from European Union Joint Program - Neurodegenerative Diseases Research (EU JPND) (200,000 € for ULiège). The project aims to significantly improve the understanding of structural and metabolic brain alterations in spinocerebellar ataxias through the increased sensitivity provided by ultra-high-field MRI. At ULiège, the GIGA-CRC-IVI research unit will contribute to this objective by developing the quantification and correction of inhomogeneities in brain data obtained by 7T MRI. More generally, the research carried out and collaborations with ultra-high-field MRI centers will help to improve and further anchor the use of this cutting-edge tool at ULiège.
Joint Program - Neurodegenerative Diseases Research (JPND): “SCAIFIELD - Spinocerebellar ataxias: Advanced imaging with ultra-high field MRI” obtained by Pr. Pierre Maquet and Dr. Evelyne Balteau (GIGA-CRC In Vivo Imaging, ULiège)
