Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit has received funding for a multi-year research partnership designed to advance the understanding of early changes to the operations of brain circuits in Alzheimer's disease.

Person doing a jigsaw of the brain

The UK DRI Grand Challenge Award will support a collaboration between the Dupret Group at the MRC Unit and researchers based at University College London, and will be led by UK DRI Group Leader Dr. Marc Aurel Busche. The team will work together to develop a biomarker for Alzheimer's that can be used to identify and monitor early signs of the disease.

This Grand Challenge Award...reflects the Unit's distinctive contributions to the national ecosystem supporting research and innovation in neurodegenerative diseases. - Professor Peter Magill

The MRC Unit will leverage its leading expertise in the electrophysiological interrogation of brain functions underlying memory, focusing on state-of-the-art mouse models of Alzheimer's. The Award will also support parallel studies in human research participants at the UK DRI, offering a valuable opportunity for cross-species translation of research discoveries.

Professor David Dupret, who will lead the Unit's contribution to the collaborative programme, commented: 'The work funded by this award will tackle a genuinely grand challenge in dementia research, that is, the development and validation of a functional circuit-based biomarker for Alzheimer's. It is an exciting opportunity for our researchers to team up with colleagues in London and use complementary approaches to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying memory in both animal models and humans. We look forward to working with our partners as we pursue our shared goal of meeting this grand challenge.'

Unit Director Professor Peter Magill commented: 'We are delighted for David and his collaborators. This Grand Challenge Award is the first substantial investment of the UK DRI in the Unit's research. It not only reflects David's leading position in his field, but also the Unit's distinctive contributions to the national ecosystem supporting research and innovation in neurodegenerative diseases. It is an excellent fit to the Unit's wider strategy fostering both fundamental and translational neuroscience research across species.'

You can read more about this Grand Challenge Award on the UK DRI website.

Similar stories

European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases launches repository of cohorts for researchers

The new Cohort Catalogue will facilitate discovery of over 60 neurodegeneration research cohorts from 17 countries across Europe

Two NDCN students join BNA Scholars Programme

The British Neuroscience Association Scholars Programme was launched in 2021 with a view to improving equality, diversity and inclusion in neuroscience.

Ophthalmology Conference in Kyiv

On 21 February, Robert MacLaren organised a one-day ophthalmology conference in Kyiv together with Dr Andrii Ruban, President of the Ukrainian Vitreoretinal Society.

Bioelectronic implant offers an intelligent therapy to treat incontinence

The first participants in a clinical trial of a bioelectrical therapy to treat incontinence have received their 'smart' bioelectronic implants.

Direct evidence of reduced NMDA receptors in people with form of encephalitis

NMDAR-antibody encephalitis is an autoimmune brain condition caused by patient’s own antibodies that bind to NMDA (N-Methyl-D-Aspartate) receptors in the synapses between nerve cells.

Director of MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit appointed

From 2 January 2023, Professor Peter Magill will lead the Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit (MRC BNDU) at the University of Oxford.