Neurodegenerative diseases - two new JPND open Calls launched (€ 23 million)

The EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) has launched two Joint Transnational Calls. Research teams across Europe are invited to submit proposals to increase the understanding of the factors that put people at risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and also to evaluate health and social care strategies for people living with these debilitating illnesses. For the Netherlands ZonMw participates in both calls in the context of the research and innovation programme ‘Memorabel’, part of the Deltaplan for Dementia:

• Call 1 - European research projects for Pilot Studies on Preventive Strategies related to Neurodegenerative Diseases: deadline for submitting proposals is February 20, 2014, 23:59 (CET); The budget for all participating countries is € 11 million. The anticipated amount of funding for this call of ZonMw is € 1 million;
• Call 2 - European research projects for cross-disease analysis of pathways related to Neurodegenerative Diseases: deadline for submitting proposals is February 18, 2014, 23:59 (CET). For this call the budget for all participating countries is € 12 million. ZonMw funds € 1 million.

Proposals may be submitted by research groups working in universities (or other higher education institutions), non-university public research institutes, hospitals and other health care settings, as well as commercial companies, in particular small and medium-size enterprises. Each proposal must involve a minimum of three JPND-funded research groups.

JPND is the largest global research initiative aimed at tackling the challenge of neurodegenerative diseases. JPND aims to increase coordinated investment between participating countries in research aimed at finding causes, developing cures, and identifying appropriate ways to care for those with neurodegenerative diseases. Its ultimate goal is to find cures for neurodegenerative diseases and to enable early diagnosis for early targeted treatments. However, it is not possible to give definitive predictions on how long this might take to happen.