Researchers from the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht are leading a consortium of European scientists who are looking for the cause of some brain conditions including Parkinson's disease. The meeting to start proceedings for this project was held at UMC Utrecht on December 2, 2009.
Professor Marten Smidt of the Division of Neuroscience and Pharmacology at UMC Utrecht is coordinating the project that includes five other research groups from Sweden, Germany, Spain, Italy and France. The project, that is part of the EU Seventh Framework Program (FP7), will run for three years and cost approximately 3.4 million euros.
Smidt and his European colleagues will study brain cells that have been damaged by Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and autism. The research will focus on a small part of the brain cells that communicate with each other through the substance of dopamine. In this project, the researchers want to find out how these cells or dopamine neurons develop during the development of the brain. They also want to find out the exact nature of the differences between these specific dopamine neurons (in these patients) and other dopamine neurons. The knowledge gained from this research should provide reference points that lead to new areas of treatment with drugs currently under development.
At the end of last year, Smidt received a VICI grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) for his research into dopamine neurons. He has been Professor of Developmental Neurobiology at UMC Utrecht since October 1, 2009.
Through the FP7, the European Commission hopes to improve the scientific and technology areas at the base of European industry and develop and strengthen the industrial competitiveness of Europe.
More information on the consortium can be found at www.mddaneurodev.eu.