Research Programme on Neuroscience sheds new light on nervous system research
6 April 2006
The Academy of Finland has launched NEURO, a four-year research programme on neuroscience. The programme is funded by the Academy, the National Natural Science Foundation of China NSFC and the Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction INMHA from Canada.
The objective of the programme is to
- promote high-quality, multi- and interdisciplinary research in neuroscience in the participating countries;
- establish more effective networking and collaboration between researchers in Canada, China and Finland;
- enhance the application of advanced technologies in neuroscience;
- stimulate mobility of researchers between the countries, and to promote researcher training (special scope for young scientists);
- establish new forms of research collaboration; and
- accelerate the exchange of new scientific knowledge among scientists and between scientists and other interest groups (e.g. policy makers, funding bodies, the media and the general public)
The programme provides funding for, for example, molecular and cellular neuroscience, research into nervous system development, systems and cognitive neuroscience, diseases of the nervous system, neuroinformatics and neurotechnology as well as for ethical, philosophical and socio-cultural questions related to neuroscience.
The programme seeks to further intensify the active cooperation with Canadian research groups and to increase interaction with China, which is becoming a significant player in science. International research cooperation is a necessity for researchers in a small country like Finland, in order to reach a sufficient level of know-how and expertise. Apart from solely Finnish projects, the programme also consists of joint projects between the Finnish, Chinese and Canadian partners. Cooperation with the Chinese includes studies of the neurophysiological mechanisms of memory and attention, while cooperation with Canadian partners includes studies of inflammation mechanisms in nervous damages.
The Academy of Finland funds the programme with seven million euros. A total of 25 projects will receive funding. Additional information on the projects is available on the NEURO website www.aka.fi/neuro.
More information:
Programme Manager Mika Tirronen, tel. +358 9 7748 8255, mika.tirronen at aka.fi
Academy of Finland Communications
Communications Specialist Leena Vähäkylä
Tel. +358 9 7748 8327 or +358 40 833 2978
leena.vahakyla at aka.fi