Perspective
In the initial 15 months (application deadline for the Bundesexzellenzinitiative) we will establish most instruments proposed for this initiative. In particular, we envisage to have established the computational neuroscience group within 12 months after start of the funding period i.e. in spring 2010. The tandem projects are envisaged to start in autumn 2009, i.e. a few months after the start of the funding period. The junior research group for integrative neuroscience will be established during the first months of 2010. Thus, this initiative emphasizes structural instruments that can realistically improve neuroscientific research in Hamburg within 15 months by establishing new key research groups and at the same also effectively linking existing elements and individual expertise.
During the entire funding period (3.5 years), this consortium will have tightened its links through the established instruments and in particular through tandem projects. After 2 years we expect publishable results of the tandem projects, the junior research group and the computational neuroscience group. At this time, we also expect the first joint publications with different members of the consortium and initial collaborative grant proposals. The mid-term perspective of the consortium (8 years) will be the identification of mechanisms of learning and plasticity in humans through the proposed combined animal-human approach. As a long-term perspective (15 years) this consortium will be in a position to exploit novel insights into the molecular basis of learning and synaptic plasticity in healthy individuals and in patients with neurological disorders. This will enable us to devise and implement novel therapeutic approaches to combat dementias and other neurological impairments and enhance learning capabilities.
In terms of neurodegenerative disease, this integration will comprise diagnostic tools derived from body fluids or CSF for detecting early stages of the disease before cognitive or other neurological impairments are clinically evident. In addition, diagnostic tools can be derived from brain imaging using novel morphometric techniques that allow the assessment of brain structure noninvasively. Genetic approaches in rodents might ultimately lead to improved risk assessment in humans by genetic indicators.
