The Ageing Society
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE AGEING SOCIETY THE UNIVERSITIES OF NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA: YOUR PARTNERS FOR EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROJECTS THE AGEING SOCIETY EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROJECTS THE UNIVERSITIES OF NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA: YOUR PARTNERS FOR EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS “THE AGEING SOCIETY“ Since its foundation in 2007, the NRW Innovation Alliance has cant social topic but, besides medical issues, it also addresses worked hard to sustain the presence of North Rhine-West- technical and socioscientific questions. Key terminology in- phalia‘s universities in Europe. Given the intense competition cludes neurodegenerative diseases, research and development for European funding, greater success may only be achieved by within medical technology, computer-science based technolo- improving awareness of the diverse and excellent level of re- gies, consequences of the demographic change for our health search expertise that exists in this German state‘s universities. systems, the economic and working environment and urban Hence, the NRW Innovation Alliance is organising its first sym- development. posium on “The Ageing Society“. This carefully chosen research topic of international relevance will afford the universities in The extensive compilation of references to scientists‘ details, North Rhine-Westphalia the chance to demonstrate their po- their research activities and contact information will enable tential input, scientific excellence and multiple resources for representatives at scientific institutes and companies to estab- developing and shaping current and future European research lish contact with appropriate partners in North Rhine-West- programmes. The symposium will take place in Brussels, pro- phalia‘s universities. viding access to a potentially large audience including the Eu- ropean Commission, European Parliament, political parties and A short presentation of the NRW Innovation Alliance associations. concludes this publication. The NRW Innovation Alliance has prepared this catalogue to On behalf of the board of directors of the Innovation Alliance adequately illustrate the whole spectrum of the universities‘ of the Universities of North Rhine-Westphalia competences in “The Ageing Society“ field, with the intention of providing the information in a sustainable form. The cata- Prof. Dr. Gisela Schäfer-Richter logue not only concisely presents a wide range of scientific Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Schäfer projects that consider multiple aspects of this highly signifi- 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 The Universities of North Rhine-Westphalia: Your Partners for European Research Projects That Address “The Ageing Society“ TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 HOW WE PREPARED THE CATALOGUE 5 INTRODUCTION OF UNIVERSITIES‘ COMPETENCES AND RESEARCH 6-50 Projects are ordered according to universities FACTS & FIGURES Compendium of contact persons 52-56 Name - Index 57 Subject - Index 58-59 Short description of the NRW Innovation Alliance 60-61 Imprint 63 4 HOW WE PREPARED THE CATALOGUE YOUR PARTNERS FOR EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS “THE AGEING SOCIETY“ AIMS PROJECT PRESENTATION With this catalogue, the Universities in North Rhine-West- ALL ARTICLES ARE STRUCTURED AS FOLLOWS: phalia outline their excellent research in dealing with the many aspects of an ageing society, an issue that is of enormous ■ Project title. importance to all members of the European Union. The presen- tations document the universities‘ scientific capacities, high- ■ Name of the university, contact. lighting the issues and research that should be taken into ■ Abstract – description of work, objectives, main targets. consideration by the European Union in present or future funding programmes. ■ List of participants, business partners, research The collection of high-quality references in this catalogue institutions, networks etc. (from North Rhine-Westphalia enables European companies and research institutions to and from other member states of the EU). easily contact relevant research partners in North Rhine-West- ■ Project start and duration, total costs and funding. phalia‘s universities. ■ Perspectives, approaches and ideas for further development at the European level. THE FIRST STEP In Spring 2009, the “EU-Lobbying“ team from the NRW Inno- vation Alliance, comprising representatives from ten universi- ties, conducted an inquiry at all universities in North Rhine- Westphalia asking for research projects dealing with various aspects of “The Ageing Society“. GUIDELINES ■ Focus on excellent research projects, e.g. collaborative research centres and priority programmes funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, Deutsche Forschungs- gemeinschaft), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the European Union, companies etc.. Not just basic research, but also applied projects. ■ Various points of contact for the issue “The Ageing Society“, e.g. medical, technical, socioscientific questions. ■ Not more than three projects per university (one page per project). ■ Easy-to-read representations. ■ Contact information on project leaders and participants. 17 universities participated in this survey and submitted details for 45 research projects. 5 RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY 1.1 JARA – BRAIN; JÜLICH AACHEN RESEARCH ALLIANCE – TRANSLATIONAL BRAIN MEDICINE ABSTRACT LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Translational Brain Medicine (JARA-BRAIN) RWTH Aachen University Aim: The School of Medicine (RWTH) and the Institute of Neuroscience (especially School of Medicine) and Biophysics–Medicine (Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, FZJ) have Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH proven collaborations in various psychiatric and neurological research (especially Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, INM) projects. JARA-BRAIN will set a common frame for collaboration and focus on: (1) the identification of predictors of psychiatric and neuro- logical diseases through brain imaging (MR, fMRI, PET, MEG), animal models, behavioural and genetic risk analyses, allowing for individu- PROJECT START AND DURATION, ally optimised treatment and prevention; (2) novel therapies including TOTAL COSTS AND FUNDING brain-computer interfaces and deep brain stimulation; and (3) techni- This project is part of the institutional strategy of the RWTH Aachen cal innovations in neuroimaging and their transfer into clinical ap- University within the Excellence Initiative for improving research run plications. The neuroscientific focus is on neurodegenerative diseases by federal and state governments. It is funded with approx. 5 Mio. (demographic shift), schizophrenia and affective disorders (extreme Euro within the 5 year period of the Excellence Initiative. impairment), and developmental dysfunctions (life-long impairment). Translating neuroscience to clinical applications at an internationally recognised level requires analysis of large cohorts using innovative methods – both of these prerequisites are facilitated thanks to the PERSPECTIVES, APPROACHES AND IDEAS FOR structured cooperation of both centres. However, to achieve true FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AT THE EU LEVEL interdisciplinarity, we need to support academic leaders that combine This Excellence Initiative aims to improve structures for successful competency in both research and clinical practice, besides opportuni- research. As such it is difficult to define conrete perspectives for ties that are exclusively focused on one or the other. Therefore, in further development of projects. JARA-BRAIN basically concentrates JARA-BRAIN we have adopted the international practice of establish- on the further advancement of the collaboration between the RWTH ing a clinician-scientist, who can integrate clinical competency in Aachen University and the Forschungszentrum Jülich. Developments psychiatric and neurological diseases with basic neuroscience and/or at the EU level will depend on the initiatives of the participating re- neuroimaging based on formalised concepts. This may represent a pi- searchers. oneering model for other fields of medicine. Structural prerequisites: The idea of JARA-BRAIN is to offer promising prerequisites for such The FZJ has a unique infrastructure for neuroimaging, brain mapping, developments. Four newly established junior groups and a JARA- cellular neurobiology, cognitive neurology, MEG and deep brain stimu- BRAIN general manager to support large-scale funding applications lation. Expertise in psychiatry, neurology, neuropsychology, clinical are central measures within this approach. research, and patient care will be the input of the RWTH. The potential impact of JARA-BRAIN is further enhanced by existing and ongoing joint activities and joint centre grants (DFG, BMBF, industry). Further- more, JARA-BRAIN works closely with the International Research Training Group (IRTG) 1328 on brain behaviour relationships in schizo- phrenia and autism as well as the Aachen Institute for Advanced Study in Computational Engineering Science (AICES). There is already collaborative agreement with the proposed Cluster of Excellence “Me- dia: Material Conditions and Cultural Practice“ Implementation: Clin- ical scientists will start as Junior Professors with tenure track (W1), supplemented by young physicians from the alliance institutions. The certified education will imply independence from everyday clinical duties yet awareness of its needs. The new generation of academic leaders will facilitate the convergence of clinical and basic neuro- science in translational medicine, shape education, and enhance clin- ical practice. RWTH Aachen University CONTACT: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,