On 15 June, the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) organised an event called “IMI impact on dementia”, as part of its series of online live sessions on the impact of IMI in various areas. During these impact events, key actors explored the challenges faced, and demonstrated how IMI contributed towards overcoming them. Dementia was one of three specific areas in which the IMI showcased its impact, with the others being diabetes, and the relatively new field of data management. The IMI is a partnership between the European Union and the European pharmaceutical industry. It facilitates open collaboration in research, to advance the development of, and accelerate patient access to, personalised medicines for the health and wellbeing of all, especially in areas of unmet medical need. Dementia projects account for around 10% of IMI’s budget, most of which are focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The presentations given during the IMI impact on dementia event included the topic of “The challenge, the vision and the value”, which was explored by Luc Truyen from Janssen and Helen Rochford-Brennan, a member of the European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD). Helen Rochford-Brennan highlighted the importance of involving people affected by dementia in research and projects and the value of collaboration. She and her EWGPWD colleagues have been involved in several IMI projects, including EPAD, ROADMAP, AMYPAD, RADAR-AD, PARADIGM and AETIONOMY, as part of the public involvement (PI) work.
The next topic explored at the event was “How IMI projects have addressed the challenge & 'moved the needle' , Solutions from IMI projects”, which was discussed by Carlos Diaz, Neuronet project coordinator, Rachel Steeg, Fraunhofer UK Research Ltd, and Gill Farrar of GE Healthcare Medical Affairs. Carlos Diaz highlighted the importance of moving towards a system leadership approach in order to efficiently coordinate neurodegeneration research. Rachel Steeg introduced the European Bank for induced pluripotent Stem Cells,and Gill Farrar spoke about a collaborative research initiative aiming to improve the understanding, diagnosis and management of AD through the utilisation of ß-amyloid PET imaging (AMYPAD). The presentations were followed by a ‘questions and answer’ round. Find the recordings here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ju_bM2SlTKo?list=PLvrEEDAAI_jEtY9t4rEmRr2wuLsVSgAlv
