Consensus Document on European Brain Research

Brain disease psychiatric and neurologic disease combined represents a considerable social and economic burden in Europe. Data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that brain diseases are responsible...

The main purpose of this special section of the European Journal of Ageing is to provide a sample of research that is at the forefront of European work on the quality of life (QoL) of older people. The five articles, from their different perspectives, provide overviews of recent developments in this field from several European countries, addressing and examining the topic at various levels: the micro level of the individual, the meso level of the family and community and the macro level of the society. These issues are of interest not only to European researchers and practitioners, but also to a global audience. The key to these developments on the European scene is the striving of the scientific community for enhanced European collaboration, culminating in the creation of the European Research Area in Ageing (ERA-AGE) and the launch of the European Journal of Ageing in 2004. The special section includes five articles that deal with various aspects of QoL starting with an account of QoL at the macro-level on ‘‘Welfare states and quality of later life: distributions and predictions in a comparative perspective’’ by Andreas Motel-Klingebiel, Laura Romeu Gordo and Jorg Betzin. This is followed by the micro–meso-level with the article by Ruth Katz, which looks at ‘‘Intergenerational family relations and subjective well-being in old age: a cross-national study’’, and the article on ‘‘Older adults loneliness: myths and realities’’ by Pearl Dykstra. The special section is followed by the article on ‘‘Care-related quality of life in old age’’ by Marja Vaarama and concluding this special section with the micro/meso level and the article on: ‘‘The home environment and quality of life-related outcomes in advanced old age: findings of the ENABLE-AGE project’’ by Hans-Werner Wahl, Oliver Schilling, Frank Oswald and Susanne Iwarsson. In this opening article, we will try to outline briefly various approaches to, or models of, QoL, relate to the current state of knowledge of QoL in old age and finally outline priorities for European future research in this field.

The European Green Deal and its target to achieve a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 together with the new European Union Urban Mobility Framework put urban mobility and logistics in the spotlight of European mobility policies. Research and innovation are paramount to respond to the challenges and to further improve mobility and transport systems in cities, while fully tackling the negative impacts of transport. This study provides a review of recent trends, challenges and achievements of European research and innovation initiatives in urban mobility and logistics and examines their alignment with the overarching transport and mobility policy objectives. The paper identifies relevant projects that focus on urban mobility, using the Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS) database. It identifies the main trends in European research and discusses main areas of development and key achievements. It also presents recommendations for future research priorities and initiatives.

An updated strategic research agenda for the integration of radioecology in the european radiation protection research

What ethics integration looks like in neuroscience research.

The treatment of aphasias-acquired language disorders-caused by stroke and other neurological conditions has benefitted from insights from neuroscience and neuropsychology. Hebbian mechanisms suggest that massed practice and exploitation of residual neurological capacities can aid neurorehabilitation of patients with poststroke aphasia, and progress in basic neuroscience research indicates that the language system of the human brain is functionally interwoven with perceptual and motor systems. Intensive speech and language therapies, including constraint-induced aphasia therapy, that activate both the linguistic and concordant motor circuits utilize the knowledge gained from these advances in neuroscience research and can lead to surprisingly rapid improvements in language performance, even in patients with chronic aphasia. Drug-based therapies alone and in conjunction with behavioral language therapies also increase language performance in patients with aphasia. Furthermore, noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electrical stimulation techniques that target neuronal activity within perilesional areas might help patients with aphasia to regain lost language functions. Intensive language-action therapies that lead to rapid improvements in language skills might provide a new opportunity for investigating fast plastic neuronal changes in the areas of the brain associated with language processing. Here, we review progress in basic neuroscience research and its translational impact on the neurorehabilitation of language disorders after stroke.

"Baker, Mary Geraldine, (born 27 Oct. 1936), President: European Parkinson’s Disease Association, 1992–2006; European Federation of Neurological Associations, 2002–11; European Brain Council, 2010–14 (Vice President, 2002–10)" published on by Oxford University Press.

IntroductionThe European research landscape suffers widely from fragmentation and little cross-border research collaboration. Efforts are underway to bring the European Research Area to a higher level of performance and capacity in cutting-edge science, with high anticipations for the promotion of multidisciplinary research infrastructures of transnational engagement. A European distributed research infrastructure active in this framework is METROFOOD-RI, committed to promoting metrology in food and nutrition with particular focus on measurement research related to agrifood systems.MethodsFor research infrastructures, streamlining resources among partner organizations and establishing priorities around specific topics is critical for ensuring smooth operation. Similarly, METROFOOD-RI faced the challenge of exploring its strategic direction and research priorities as revealed in its first Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). This report details how the internal process of topic identification and prioritization progressed within the METROFOOD-RI SRIA and what obstacles were encountered along the way. A dual-track strategy was taken for locating future SRIA topics, applying a top-down and bottom-up approach, followed by internal consultation with METROFOOD-RI experts. The topic prioritization drew on a vote among the METROFOOD-RI Management Committee employing a custom-designed numerical rating scale questionnaire. Based on the maximum scores obtained for each topic, appropriate thresholds were introduced for classifying individual topics into high, medium, low, and very low priority ones.ResultsA total of 80 topics categorized into eight major clusters of challenges were located as potential SRIA candidates. Upon prioritization, 9 topics of very high priority and 16 topics of medium priority were identified as key research thematic areas of the newly developed SRIA.DiscussionAs a strategic framework, the SRIA occupies a central position and sets not only the scientific focus of the research infrastructure in the coming years, but also contributes to realizing the full potential and excellence of METROFOOD-RI, selectively expanding the existing portfolio and thus contributing to maximum efficiency and sustainability. It is anticipated that the lessons learned by METROFOOD-RI and its experiences shared are a valuable stimulus and guide for those who are taking on the challenge of setting-up a SRIA and are looking for edifying and constructive information on how to do so.

Non-chemical weed management covers all management practices that influence weeds except herbicides. This chapter summarises the major achievements in European research, as well as work undertaken in North America. Research groups from both continents have interacted strongly on the topic over the years and shared common interests on the development of non-chemical tactics. The chapter encompasses preventive, cultural and direct weed control methods, explaining the basic principles and the integration of these tactics in weed management strategies for agricultural and horticultural crops and in some cases amenity areas as well. Preventive methods reduce weed germination, cultural methods improve crop competition and direct physical weed control reduces weed survival. Non-chemical weed management is mainly adopted in organic crop production, as conventional growers still perceive it as more costly and less reliable than herbicide-based weed control programmes.

Cardiovascular diseases represent the major cause of mortality in women and in men.1,2 However, gender differences in the clinical presentation of cardiovascular diseases have been demonstrated3 and some therapeutic options may not be equally effective and safe in men and women.4 Furthermore, gender differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics may contribute to a different response to cardiovascular drugs in women when compared with men.5,6 Accordingly, preventive and therapeutical interventions should be tested in populations that fairly represent the gender distribution. In contrast, under-representation of women in cardiovascular trials has been clearly demonstrated in the past. The European Heart Health Strategy (EuroHeart) project of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Heart Network (EHN), co-funded by the European Commission, addressed the issue of women representation in cardiovascular clinical research in Europe. The enrolment of women in cardiovascular clinical trials funded by the NHLBI was 38% between 1965 and 19987 and 27% between 1997 and 2006.8 Furthermore, only 13 of 19 studies reported gender-based outcomes. In the European cardiovascular clinical trials of the same period, the proportion of women enrolled varied between 16 and 25%, although the female prevalence of clinical conditions under study in the general population was similar to that of men. In 2005, the European Medicines Agency and the ESC Policy Conference on Cardiovascular Diseases in Women recommended a significant representation of women in clinical trials.3 The current representation of women in European cardiovascular research has been assessed in the EuroHeart project. Observational studies; randomized clinical trials, including meta-analyses; European registries; Guidelines and Statements of European Scientific Societies, published between 2006 and June 2009, have been analysed, focusing on the number and percentage of women enrolled, age of participants, time of follow-up, availability of the analysis of …

This article is a markedly condensed summary of a longer report [Resource allocation to brain research in Europe (RABRE), part 2] that is simultaneously published on line: (i) as supplementary material linked to this European Journal of Neuroscience article (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/ejn) and (ii) on the website of the European Brain Council (http://www.europeanbraincouncil.org/publications). We have recently shown that brain diseases account for 35% of the overall disease burden and cost European society almost euro 400 billion per year (a billion is understood to mean one thousand million throughout this report). The aim of the present study was to estimate funding for brain research in Europe and the cost-benefit of further investments in this area of research. The assessment of funding included public sources (governmental agencies plus charities) and industry funding. The assessment of publicly financed research support for brain research was based on a comprehensive survey, and industry investment in brain research was assessed based on published data on pharmaceutical development. The total funding of brain research in Europe was estimated at euro 4.1 billion in 2005, of which public grants amounted to < euro 900 million. Thus, industry funding accounted for 79%. Although cancer only incurred 50% of the cost of brain diseases in 2005, public grants for cancer research were almost twice as high as the public financial support of brain research. US-based funding of brain research was almost four times higher than European funding. We assessed the cost-benefit of further investment in brain research using different methods. They all showed that increased investment in brain research is likely to be highly cost-effective. We conclude that European spending on brain research, particularly public spending, is low compared to other fields of research and to the US, and that increased investment in brain research seems warranted.

Event Abstract Back to Event Direct Action of two major Antidepressants on a Specific Inhibitory Circuit of the Hippocampus A. Bacci1, P. Mendez1* and A. Pazienti1 1 European Brain Research Institute, Italy Hippocampal inhibitory synapses innervating the perisomatic region of principal pyramidal neurons originate from different basket cell subtypes. Specific properties of these inhibitory synapses differently control hippocampal functions. Fast-spiking (FS) interneurons exert a tight temporal control of network activities, and support feed-forward inhibition. Conversely, cannabinoid receptor 1(CB1R)-positive basket cells generate feedback inhibition and were proposed to control mood and emotional states. Alterations of GABA release from specific soma-targeting interneurons might thus result in mood disorders. Here we studied the effects on inhibitory neurotransmission onto CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells of two major antidepressants: imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant and fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Application of either drug strongly reduced evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents and increased the excitation-inhibition ratio on pyramidal neurons in acute slices from rodents. These effects had a presynaptic origin and were independent of the known actions of these drugs on aminergic reuptake systems. Interestingly, antidepressants affected selective inhibitory circuits, as both drugs reduced feed-forward inhibition, leaving the CB1R-sensitive feedback loop unaffected. Pair recordings of unitary synaptic responses between identified basket cells and pyramidal neurons showed that these antidepressants reduced inhibition originating from FS cells, but not from CB1R+ interneurons. Despite their widespread use in clinic, the precise mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs is still debated. Our results demonstrate that hippocampal inhibitory circuits are selectively and directly affected by two major antidepressants and suggest a new mechanism of action of these drugs in the central nervous system. We are currently testing how this selective suppression of feed-forward inhibition affects network hippocampal activities. Conference: EMBO workshop: Gaba Signalling and Brain Networks , Amsterdam, Netherlands, 30 Jun - 2 Jul, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Posters Citation: Bacci A, Mendez P and Pazienti A (2010). Direct Action of two major Antidepressants on a Specific Inhibitory Circuit of the Hippocampus. Conference Abstract: EMBO workshop: Gaba Signalling and Brain Networks . doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.15.00016 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 24 Jun 2010; Published Online: 24 Jun 2010. * Correspondence: P. Mendez, European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy, p.mendez@ebri.it Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers A. Bacci P. Mendez A. Pazienti Google A. Bacci P. Mendez A. Pazienti Google Scholar A. Bacci P. Mendez A. Pazienti PubMed A. Bacci P. Mendez A. Pazienti Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

No area of stroke research should be left behind

An overview on European Manufacturing research visions and roadmaps as an answer to economical and societal challenges and opportunities

European science foundation brain research programme 1990–1991