ERA-NET NEURON

The maintenance and restoration of health is one of the most valuable goods in human life and a fundamental need for citizens in all countries. Biomedical and health research is an important basis for the improvement of healthy living. Among the many diseases affecting health, disorders of the brain are major causes for impaired quality of life. According to estimates by the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than one billion people suffer from disorders of the central nervous system. With increasing average life expectancy of the population, especially in highly industrialised countries, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is rapidly growing.

Thus, research in the area of disease-related neurosciences and its translation into diagnostic and therapeutical measures are of highest priority. ERA-NET NEURON is a joint partnership for funding of disease-oriented neuroscientific research supported within the EU Sixth Framework Programme. It represents a platform for research and health ministries and funding agencies in EU Member States and Associated or Candidate Countries.

Participants in ERA-NET NEURON include 15 core partners and four observers from twelve countries. The network is coordinated by Germany. The funding received by ERA-NET NEURON from the EU Commission totals EUR 2.7 million for 2007–2010.

In 2008, ERA-NET NEURON opened a joint project call entitled Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Central Nervous System, in which the Academy of Finland was one of the participants.

ERA-NEURON II

ERA-NET NEURON II will open a Joint Transnational Call on 10 January 2013 for “European Research Projects on Mental Disorders”. A preliminary call text is available online. The final call for applications will be available online at the start of the call. The call deadline is 11 March 2013.