Fourth Neuronet newsletter issue launched

Welcome to the fourth issue of the Neuronet newsletter!

We hope this newsletter finds you well. This fourth newsletter issue provides you with up-to-date insights on the Innovative Medicines Initiative’s (IMI) research efforts to tackle challenges in neurodegeneration. Our programme actively connects 17 research projects. We are happy to welcome the Mobilise-D project, which has recently joined the Neuronet programme. Mobilise-D aims to develop a comprehensive system to analyse people’s gait based on digital technologies and is focusing on conditions which often affect mobility such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

We are delighted, as ever, to share the progress we are making with Neuronet. There are many highlights including the finalisation of the first version of an ‘asset map’ that depicts the richness of the IMI Neurodegeneration portfolio in terms of tools and results in a consolidated way. Our Working Groups have also been busy, holding online meetings and finalising deliverable reports that form first drafts of guidance on data sharing, patient privacy and sustainability. At the beginning of June we held a very engaging online Scientific Coordination Board meeting. 10 IMI projects were represented at the meeting and a key topic was COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic is having on the IMI Neurodegeneration projects. Project leaders discussed how the Europe-wide lockdown measures have impacted on project activities and collaborators.

An important date for your calendars: the annual Neuronet event will now be held online, during the 30th Alzheimer Europe Conference between 20-22 October. Originally planned to take place in Bucharest, the virtual conference is being held under the banner “Dementia in a changing world”. Several Neuronet parallel sessions will be held where we will highlight the IMI neurodegeneration projects. More details about the Neuronet event will be available on our website as soon as matters are finalised.

As always, this newsletter also provides you with updates on progress and achievements from the IMI neurodegeneration research projects. Last but not least, we'd like to highlight that this issue also features a spotlight on early-career investigators. We spoke to Sarah Gregory who told us about her work on the EPAD project.

Happy reading and stay safe!