EpimiRNA consortium receives €11.5m to uncover effects of microRNA in epilepsy
Will develop microRNA-based treatments to prevent the development of epilepsy and the occurrence of seizures
The EpimiRNA consortium, involving 16 partners from eight European countries, the US and Brazil has received €11.5m funding from the European Union’s Framework Programme 7 to investigate molecular mechanisms, diagnostics and treatments for epilepsy.
Over 50 million people across the world suffer from epilepsy, making it the most common serious neurological disorder for which there is no cure. Recent discoveries have identified a new type of molecule in cells called microRNA, which may be critical to controlling the changes in brain chemistry that accompany the development and course of epilepsy.
The EpimiRNA consortium represents a major interdisciplinary effort between epilepsy researchers, geneticists, clinicians, experts in advanced molecular sciences and research companies working together to develop novel microRNA-based treatments to prevent the development of epilepsy, the occurrence of seizures or reverse epilepsy once established.
Prof. David Henshall, Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Coordinator of the EpimiRNA consortium, said: 'Improved understanding of the causes of epilepsy is critical to the development of more effective treatments and, hopefully, a cure. The EpimiRNA consortium will build on recent scientific breakthroughs that identified a new family of molecules controlling brain cell structure and function – microRNAs. We will now take the first ever large-scale international effort to uncover the complete spectrum of effects of microRNA in epilepsy, from designing drugs of the future to genetic tests and diagnostics.'
The consortium is accompanied by DIXI Microtechniques (France), Cerbomed (Germany), InteRNA Technologies (Netherlands), Bicoll (Germany-China), BC Platforms (Finland) and GABO:mi (Germany).