Published on: January 3, 2025
At the beginning of July 2024, the Federation for Brain Research launched its annual Call for Projects “ Fundamental mechanisms underlying common therapeutic approaches to brain diseases » which is part of the three-year program “ At the crossroads of brain diseases ». Although neurological and psychiatric diseases appear different, they all have at least one essential point in common: the organ concerned is the brain. This common point is not the only one, there are several such as the pathological mechanisms and symptoms from which beneficial therapeutic solutions to several brain diseases arise. This Call for Projects therefore aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying these different therapeutic approaches in order to improve their effectiveness, reduce their side effects or even identify new therapies to combat these diseases.
Researchers had until October 7, 2024 to send their letter of intent. We received 63 applications from all over Francewith some international collaborative projects.
The research axes represented
It is possible to classify the majority of files received into three main areas according to the nature of the therapeutic approaches and the study of their mechanisms:
- Elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of drug or non-drug therapies – approximately 46% of files received. These projects aim to explain the mechanisms by which certain therapies act against this or that disease. The goal is to understand if their effects can be beneficial and to what extent, which can make it possible to improve them, reduce their side effects or reposition them. These therapies can be drugs or molecules (55% of cases), brain stimulations (21% of cases), physical exercise in (10% of cases) or cognitive therapy in (also 10% of cases) and or food (3% of cases) or other types of therapies (1% of cases).
- Identify new common therapeutic targets – approximately 46% of files received. THE therapeutic targets can be of a molecular nature (38% of cases): that is to say that researchers will study in particular molecules keys of a pathological mechanism on which treatments could act, of a cellular nature (34% of cases) that is to say that the target is associated with the overall functioning of the cellsresearchers can also be interested in interactions and networks of neurons at the center of a pathological mechanism (14% of cases) or at brain regions particular; finally, other projects aim to identify targets on larger scales (2% of cases).
- Develop innovative therapeutic approaches useful for several pathologies – approximately 24% of files. Based on pathological mechanisms, researchers are trying to develop innovative therapies that can be used for several pathologies: gene therapy (33% of cases), immunotherapy (33% of cases) or other modes of action such as cellular reprogramming etc. (33% of cases).
It is interesting to note that 74% of the projects are interested in new therapeutic approaches (targets or treatments in the exploratory phase).
Note that the majority of files deal with several areas at the same time.
At the crossroads of brain diseases
The researchers presented projects to address the usefulness of therapeutic approaches:
- at the intersection of neurological and psychiatric diseases (41% of files) such as deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease and obsessive-compulsive disorders,
- at the intersection of neurological diseases (41% of files) such as the development of a form of immunotherapy in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
- at the intersection of psychiatric illnesses with each other (18% of cases) which can be illustrated, among other things, by the study of cholesterol metabolism as a therapeutic target in autism and addiction.
The research methods used
80% of the projects presented offers an approach to fundamental researchand approximately 29% offers a clinical approach. Some projects combine these two approaches.
The FRC Scientific Council met on November 21, 2024 to close the first selection phase, and determine the projects which will be assessed in phase 2. Project leaders selected at the end of phase 1 will have until the beginning of February to submit a detailed report on their project.
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Writing : Martine RAMPANANA, responsible for scientific actions at the FRC.
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