Dementias Platform UK Stem Cell Partnership
Award Number
MR/N013255/1Programme
Research GrantStatus / Stage
ActiveDates
1 August 2016 -31 July 2020
Duration (calculated)
03 years 11 monthsFunder(s)
MRC (UKRI)Funding Amount
£1,220,773.62Funder/Grant study page
MRC UKRIContracted Centre
University of EdinburghPrincipal Investigator
Professor Chandran, SiddharthanPI Contact
siddharthan.chandran@ed.ac.ukPI ORCID
0000-0001-6827-1593WHO Catergories
Development of novel therapiesDisease Type
Dementia (Unspecified)CPEC Review Info
| Reference ID | 258 |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Reside Team |
| Published | 12/06/2023 |
Data
| Award Number | MR/N013255/1 |
|---|---|
| Status / Stage | Active |
| Start Date | 20160801 |
| End Date | 20200731 |
| Duration (calculated) | 03 years 11 months |
| Funder/Grant study page | MRC UKRI |
| Contracted Centre | University of Edinburgh |
| Funding Amount | £1,220,773.62 |
Abstract
A major hurdle to developing treatments for dementia is the lack of human models to study disease mechanisms. However, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology and methods to derive neurons and glia now allow study of the pathogenic processes affected in dementia. This proposal partners six major UK Dementia Stem Cell Centres supported by the MRC Dementias Platform UK [DPUK] (Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, University College London). Our Partnership capitalises on the £8M DPUK investment in technology platforms to significantly increase the capacity, competitiveness and effective resource use of UK dementia stem cell research by promoting a highly collaborative research network to feed into drug discovery initiatives. The Partnership will create reference iPSC lines from all the major forms of dementia as well as deeply phenotyped healthy aged controls, to form a global highly phenotyped stem cell resource. Critically, we will define standard operating procedures to allow collaborative phenotyping using the DPUK technology platforms including state-of-the-art high-throughput imaging, electrophysiology, metabolomics and proteomics. Development of robust assays / phenotypes for dementia will accelerate the identification and validation of drug targets by industry and academic partners. Four appointed Network Technical Scientists will work across the six sites. Each will be dedicated to specific techniques and goals and will disseminate expertise across the Partnership and beyond. The Partnership will also support PhD students working across Centres. The programmes will leverage existing MRC investment by equipping the UK with researchers highly skilled in interdisciplinary stem cell technology and engage new UK collaborators through regular symposia and training. In summary, the Partnership will create unique stem cell resources and expertise to drive joined-up dementia research to identify new disease-modifying treatments.
Aims
This proposal partners six major UK Dementia Stem Cell Centres supported by the MRC Dementias Platform UK [DPUK] (Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, University College London). Our Partnership capitalises on the £8M DPUK investment in technology platforms to significantly increase the capacity, competitiveness and effective resource use of UK dementia stem cell research by promoting a highly collaborative research network to feed into drug discovery initiatives.
The Partnership will create reference iPSC lines from all the major forms of dementia as well as deeply phenotyped healthy aged controls, to form a global highly phenotyped stem cell resource. Critically, we will define standard operating procedures to allow collaborative phenotyping using the DPUK technology platforms including state-of-the-art high-throughput imaging, electrophysiology, metabolomics and proteomics. Development of robust assays / phenotypes for dementia will accelerate the identification and validation of drug targets by industry and academic partners.
Four appointed Network Technical Scientists will work across the six sites. Each will be dedicated to specific techniques and goals and will disseminate expertise across the Partnership and beyond. The Partnership will also support PhD students working across Centres. The programmes will leverage existing MRC investment by equipping the UK with researchers highly skilled in interdisciplinary stem cell technology and engage new UK collaborators through regular symposia and training.
In summary, the Partnership will create unique stem cell resources and expertise to drive joined-up dementia research to identify new disease-modifying treatments.