Research Programme on Neuroscience...• Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, • Nervous System...
Transcript of Research Programme on Neuroscience...• Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, • Nervous System...
Research Programme on Neuroscience
International Research
Programme on Neuroscience2006 – 2009
• Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience,• Diseases of the Nervous System,• Neuroinformatics and Neurotechnology, and• Ethical, Philosophical and Socio-Cultural
Aspects Related to Neuroscience.
CHALLENGES OF THE NEURO PROGRAMME
Neuroscience research is multidisciplinary and broad-based by nature, combining, for example, biomedical research, information technology, philosophy and psychology. A key challenge is to link different areas of the research to each other and to work towards a synthesis between these. The Research Programme on Neuroscience seeks to achieve this goal by bringing fragmented research environments together, promoting the introduction of new methods and supporting versatile researcher
NEUROSCIENCE ADVANCING FAST
Only a few decades ago, neuroscience hardly existed as an independent discipline. Today,
there are hundreds of training programmes in neuroscience, which is one of the most exciting areas of modern science. Without doubt, the role of neuroscience is constantly increasing in various fields of society. Neuroscientists have made startling discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the healthy brain and helped to treat disorders affecting millions of people. Moreover, breaking its conventional boundaries, neuroscience has an increasing influence on the development of new intelligent technologies.
The NEURO programme consists of the following core themes:
• Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience,• Nervous System Development, Plasticity and
Repair,s
The Research Programme on Neuroscience (NEURO) is a four-year programme between Finland, Canada and China providing funding for cutting-edge neuroscience research in the participating countries. The programme involves 16 Finnish, four Finnish-Chinese and three Finnish-Canadian research projects. It provides simultaneous, coordinated funding for the projects during 2006–2009. The programme is also aimed at strengthening collaboration with neuroscience research programmes and doctoral programmes in other countries. NEURO is funded by the Academy of Finland, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Research Programme on Neuroscience 2006–2009
NEURO in brief
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training. The goal is to create high-level, cross-border projects, where topical issues within neuroscience can be approached with genuine multidisciplinarity. NEURO aims to produce new knowledge on, for example, memory, learning, social interaction, anxiety as well as neurological diseases and their treatment.
The objectives of the NEURO programme are:
• to promote high-quality, multi- and interdisciplinary research in neuroscience
in the participating countries, • to establish more effective networking and
collaboration between researchers in Canada, China and Finland,
• to enhance the application of advanced technologies in neuroscience,
• to promote researcher training, and• to accelerate the exchange of new scientific
knowledge among scientists and between scientists and other interest groups.
Photos: Tapio Heino´s research group, futureimagebank.com
Layout: Sole Lätti
Yliopistopaino, Helsinki 2006
WHO: Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2002
Neurological diseases cost society approximately ten times as
much as cancer.
Just as the environment, the nervous system is plastic and flexible.
The human brain holds about 100 billion nerve cells. They form
a network in which each cell is interlinked to hundreds, or maybe
even thousands of other nerve cells. The human brain is the most
complex cell-biological system known. No wonder the brain has
always intrigued researchers.
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Disease Adjusted Life Years (DALY) Death rate
Neuropsychiatric diseases
Neuropsychiatric diseases
Finland 29% 10.00%
Canada 32% 8.00%
China 18% 1.00%
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PROJECTS FUNDED
INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
Social Brain in Interaction
Riitta Hari, Professor, Helsinki University of Technology
The Development of the Social Brain: An affective view
Jari Hietanen, Professor, University of Tampere
Mechanisms of Light Adaptation in Photoreceptor Cells:
Phototransduction Protein and Ion Trafficking between the
Functional Compartments of Rods
Ari Koskelainen, Professor, Helsinki University of Technology
Development and Functioning of Very Low Birth Weight
Infants from Infancy to School Age (PIPARI)
Liisa Lehtonen, Docent, Turku University Hospital
Modulation of Pain and Working Memory Following
Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of
Segregated Corticostriatal Fiber Tracts in Humans
Antti Pertovaara, Professor, University of Helsinki
New Methods for Measuring Cortical Dopaminergic
Regulation: Towards Neuroinformatics of Synaptic
Neurotransmission in Humans
Juha Rinne, Professor, University of Turku
CONSORTIA
Bringing the Natural Auditory Environment into the
Laboratory
Paavo Alku, Professor, Helsinki University of Technology
Patrick May, Academy Research Fellow, University of Helsinki
Hannu Tiitinen, Academy Research Fellow, University of
Helsinki
Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Animal Models of
Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Role of Inflammation
Outi Hovatta, Professor, University of Tampere
Jari Koistinaho, Professor, University of Kuopio
Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, Academy Professor, University of
Kuopio
Extrastriate Visual Processing: Integration of
Computational, Psychophysical and Imaging Approaches
Aapo Hyvärinen, Docent, University of Helsinki
Jussi Saarinen, University Lecturer, University of Helsinki
Simo Vanni, Researcher, Helsinki University of Technology
The Neurobiology of Dyslexia and Reading Ability
Juha Kere, Professor, University of Helsinki
Eero Castrén, Professor, University of Helsinki
Perttu Lindsberg, Academy Research Fellow, Helsinki
University Central Hospital
Neuronal Effectors for Pim Kinases
Päivi Koskinen, Docent, University of Turku
Eleanor Coffey, PhD, Åbo Akademi University
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The Roles of Actin-binding Proteins MIM and ABBA1
in the Development of the Central Nervous System
Pekka Lappalainen, Professor, University of Helsinki
Marjo Salminen, Academy Research Fellow, University of
Helsinki
Unraveling the Disease Mechanisms in Progressive
Myoclonus Epilepsy, EPM1
Anna-Elina Lehesjoki, Professor, University of Helsinki
Reetta Kälviäinen, MD, PhD, Kuopio University Hospital
Neurophilosophy of Consciousness
Antti Revonsuo, Professor, University of Turku
Harry Scheinin, Professor, University of Turku
Novel Neurotrophic Factors for Mammals and
Invertebrates
Mart Saarma, Professor, University of Helsinki
Tapio Heino, Docent, University of Helsinki
The Neurocognitive Basis of Learning and Its Changes
at Different Stages of Development
Elisabet Service, Docent, University of Helsinki
Matti Laine, Professor, Åbo Akademi University
Riitta Salmelin, Professor, Helsinki University of
Technology
INTERNATIONAL JOINT PROJECTS
Functional Dissociation between Memory and Attention
in Prefrontal Cortex of People and Monkeys
Synnöve Carlson, Academy Research Fellow, University of
Helsinki
Yuanye Ma, Professor, Kunming Institute of Zoology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Structure and Biology of GDNF Signalling Systems
Adrian Goldman, Professor, University of Helsinki
Jiawei Zhou, Professor, Institute of Biochemistry and
Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Development of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying
Neuron-astrocyte Control of Cerebral Blood Flow
Kai Kaila, Academy Professor, University of Helsinki
Brian A. McVicar, Professor, University of British Columbia
Early Detection of Neurodegenerative and Psychiatric
Diseases Based on fMRI Analysis of Spontaneous
Brain Activity
Vesa Kiviniemi, MD, PhD, Oulu University Hospital
Zang Yu-Feng, Professor, Institute of Automation, Chinese
Academy of Sciences
Neurobiology and Genetics of Anxiety
Esa Korpi, Professor, University of Helsinki
Iiris Hovatta, PhD, National Public Health Institute
Wang Jinhui, Professor, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese
Academy of Sciences
Integration of Growth Factor Signals Regulating Cellular
Differentiation in Embryonic Midbrain-hindbrain Region
Juha Partanen, Academy Research Fellow, University of
Helsinki
Timothy Hughes, Professor, University of Toronto
Inflammatory Mechanisms in Neuronal Injury
Heikki Rauvala, Professor, University of Helsinki
Sirpa Jalkanen, Academy Professor, University of Turku
Marko Salmi, Researcher, National Public Health Institute
Paul Kubes, Professor, University of Calgary
Other funding agencies:
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) is one of the 13 institutes of CIHR. INMHA supports research on the functioning and disorders of the brain, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems and the mind. (www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca)
Further information Mika Tirronen, Programme [email protected] Tembe, Project [email protected]
Academy of Finland, tel. +358 9 774 881
Programme web pages: www.aka.fi/neuro
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) was founded in February 1986 with the approval of the State Council. It is an institution for the management of the National Natural Science Fund, aimed at promoting and financing basic research and some applied research in China. Ever since its establishment, NSFC has continuously stressed the importance of international cooperation and exchange. (www.nsfc.gov.cn)
National Science Foundation of China
Dr LU RongkaiDirector of Division / [email protected]
Astrid Eberhart, Assistant DirectorINMHA/CIHR; [email protected]
Vilhonvuorenkatu 6 • POB 99, FI-00501 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358 9 774 881 • Fax +358 9 7748 8299
www.aka.fi/eng • [email protected]