The MIRIADE project has received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network grant from the European Union. Fifteen researchers in training will develop into experts in the field of biomarkers for dementia.
The diagnosis of various forms of dementia can be made more accurately with use of biomarkers. Biomarkers, in this context, are proteins in body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid or blood. Biomarker tests must be accurate and reliable to have clinical value. MIRIADE aims to improve the workflow for the development of biomarker tests, to move biomarkers to clinical practice expeditiously. Next to diagnostic purposes, there is a great demand for good biomarkers in testing the effectiveness of new medicines.
The latest technologies in the field of biomarker research will be compared in MIRIADE, resulting in a blueprint for biomarker development for dementia. The MIRIADE consortium is spread over 12 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States) and includes several disciplines, including assay development, big data integration, biocomputation, process innovation, regulatory affairs, patient involvement, and more.
The fifteen researchers in training will be hosted across the consortium partners and will be involved in research, in a network-wide training programme, and public engagement activities. Moreover, they will strongly collaborate with network partners, through short-term secondments at industrial/academic partners within the consortium.
The kick-off of MIRIADE is 1 November 2019 and applications for researchers in training are open from that date. Interested candidates are welcome to get in touch before this date, via email: miriade@vumc.nl