Objective
Epilepsy is a major burden for patients and health systems worldwide. It is a common chronic neurological disorder affecting people of all ages, and the shortfall in existing treatments means that 30% of patients continue to suffer uncontrolled seizures. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a recently-discovered, network-level layer of gene expression regulation that controls protein levels of entire signaling pathways. Research on miRNAs has unprecedented potential to (i) further our understanding of the underlying disease processes, (ii) deliver novel signatures and prognostic markers for response to therapy, and (iii) deliver novel therapeutics and drug targets. EpiMiRNA consortium members have pioneered discoveries on brain-specific miRNAs, established that miRNA changes are a feature of the pathophysiology of human temporal lobe epilepsy and have demonstrated experimentally that altering miRNA function can potently suppress epileptic seizures and seizure-damage. EpiMiRNA brings together experts on the neurobiology of miRNAs with the leading researchers working on miRNAs in epilepsy, epilepsy geneticists, leaders in miRNA-target detection, proteomics, and systems biology with research-intensive SMEs pursuing miRNA therapeutics and treatments for pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Through highly collaborative, inter-disciplinary and inter-sectorial research, EpiMiRNA will explain the mechanism by which miRNAs contribute to epileptogenesis, characterize genetic variation of miRNA in patients, evaluate seizure-suppressing effects of miRNAs in experimental models, identify novel miRNA modulatory molecules as potential future therapeutics, and develop miRNAs as prognostic markers to identify patients who respond to novel, non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions including brain stimulation. EpiMiRNA will generate the necessary critical mass in biomedical, clinical and industry/SME research to track, treat and prevent seizures and improve the clinical management of epilepsy patients.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
FP7-HEALTH-2013-INNOVATION-1
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Funding Scheme
CP-IP - Large-scale integrating projectCoordinator
2 Dublin
Ireland
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Participants (18)
35037 Marburg
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3584 CX Utrecht
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WC1E 6BT LONDON
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37129 Verona
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91054 Erlangen
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27708 Durham Nc
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13083 875 Campinas Sp
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8000 Aarhus C
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5230 Odense M
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25025 BESANCON
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91052 ERLANGEN
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6534 AB Nijmegen
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81241 MUENCHEN
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02130 Espoo
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80333 Muenchen
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10027 7003 New York
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75008 Paris
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25640 CHAUDEFONTAINE
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