How do we know our approach is working? Recent progress.

Summer 2009 — Largest ever MS genetics study
The Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center is part of a 20-group worldwide collaboration to complete the largest ever genetics study of MS. Due to the sheer size of the study (over 12 billion data points are expected), it is anticipated that the study will identify virtually all MS risk genes. This initiative illustrates the power of collaboration. By establishing the International MS Genetics Consortium, its member research institutions have the opportunity to pool DNA samples from more than 20,000 patients. Individually, none of the participating research institutions would have the capacity to complete a study of this size and complexity. The study’s initial results are anticipated fall 2009, with published results by year end, including access to the entire raw data file to all MS researches worldwide.

The UK Wellcome Trust provided major funding and support for this MS genetics study. In addition, the National MS Society awarded a $2 million grant to the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center to fund the important "replication" phase of this research. For information about the Consortium’s previously published MS genetics results, including the publication of its latest research in the August 2007 New England Journal of Medicine, and details of our new study, click MS GENETICS.

Early 2010 — Collaborative Mouse Behavior Core (NEW)
The mouse, as a model for human disease, is indispensable for understanding underlying disease mechanisms and testing promising new therapies for neurodegenerative disease. That's why the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center is building a major new, state of the art mouse behavior facility, located in the heart of the Harvard Medical community. Its focus will be neurodegenerative disease and will be open to neuroscientists throughout the community. Designed to meet the exacting standards required for this crucial work, the facility will include on-site expert staff to help investigators generate reliable and relevant data that will further our understanding of the nervous system. This new Program – to open 09/10 - will fill a crucial gap to help advance the development of new treatments and cures.

2008-2010 — Biomarkers: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
A major collaborative program to discover and validate biomarkers for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease is well underway at the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center. Biomarkers are readily measured indicators of disease status. They allow physicians to measure disease severity and progression, and researchers to test new therapies. The NeuroDiscovery Center launched a collaborative effort, involving 20+ neurologists, to collect a large and valuable set of patient samples to be shared by the community – and beyond – as part of a common effort to discover and test new biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. For details, click BIOMARKERS.

2009-2010 — Collaborative ALS Drug Discovery Initiative
Thanks to generous support from the ALS Therapy Alliance, Project ALS and several private donors, a major new ALS drug discovery program was launched in June 2008 at the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center. The goal of the CADDI (Collaborative ALS Drug Discovery Initiative) is to establish a robust pipeline of early stage ALS drug discovery projects. The mission, of course, is to drive the development of the most promising projects to the point that they attract interest from the commercial sector. Last spring, CAADI issued via email a nationwide request for drug discovery proposals among thousands of investigators who work in the field of neurodegenerative disease. To date, three entirely new ALS drug discovery are well underway, with the intention to substantially expand this ALS drug discovery pipeline through 2009 and 2010. For more information, click CADDI.

Pilot Study Awards

Together with the Massachusetts’ Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center funded a new batch of pilot study awards to provide early funding for translational research on Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. Out of 29 applications, 7 were selected for funding. Funded grants totaled $230,000. Selection criteria included the likelihood that the project would yield strong preliminary data that could support a major grant application, particularly promising and exciting young investigators, and a research plan that took advantage of community resources and collaborative opportunities. For details, click here.