On 29 and 30 January, members of the FIGARO project met in Munich (Germany) for their first General Assembly meeting, hosted by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). FIGARO (“Finding Alzheimer’s disease progression markers”) is coordinated by Associate Professor Dr Betty Tijms at Amsterdam UMC and brings together partners in Germany, Norway, Luxembourg and Türkiye.
Alzheimer’s disease is often treated as a single condition, yet it can vary substantially between individuals. Blood-based biomarkers are becoming useful tools for early screening, but analysing cerebrospinal fluid can provide a more direct view of biological changes linked to disease progression at an individual level. By identifying markers associated with progression and defining molecular subtypes, FIGARO aims to clarify biological processes and support approaches that may influence the course of disease. This could help identify people most likely to respond to new treatments and support monitoring of disease progression over time.
The meeting opened with a welcome and introduction by Stefan Lichtenthaler (Technical University of Munich (TUM) and DZNE), followed by 15-minute introductions from each partner. Alongside Betty Tijms, Frederika Malichová and Anne van Nifterick from AUMC, the participants included Tormod Fladby (University of Oslo), Sarah Campill and Christophe Bintener (Alzheimer Europe), Burcu Ekinci and Kemal Uğur Tüfekci (The Genc Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection Laboratory) as well as Karsten Nalbach, Stephan Müller and Sarah Tschirner from DZNE.
A seminar on the basics of mass spectrometry covered sample preparation, measurement and quantification and data analysis and statistics. Participants also joined a guided tour of Munich city centre and shared dinner at a traditional Bavarian restaurant.
On the second day, partners discussed trial experiment mass spectrometry results and agreed next steps. They also reviewed coordination and planning across FIGARO work packages, took part in a lab tour and discussed public relations, including visibility and Public Involvement. The discussions focused on timelines, responsibilities and outputs across partners.
