BIOSAN-PROVIE Programme

Programme contact(s)


Summary of the Programme

Duration: 2000 - 2011
Total Budget: EUR 10,500,000
Total Expenses: EUR 9,768,808
Total Projects Funded: 20

The most frequent causes of mortality in the developed countries stem from cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases and from cancer. Statistical studies, conducted by the Luxembourg Health Ministry on the primary causes of mortality confirm these international observations for Luxembourg. Thus, a very significant proportion of the active population is concerned by these diseases, and the observed morbidity or even early mortality entails important repercussions on the socio-economic level. Consequently, on the level of public health, biomedical research aiming at improving the prevention, the diagnosis and the therapy of these diseases remains an absolute priority.

The "Biotechnology and Health Programme" is structured around three main axes: cancer, cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases and immunology intervention. Its objective is to contribute to the qualitative improvement of the prevention, the detection and the treatment of both cancer and cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as to develop new strategies for the specific modulation of the immune system. Thereby biomedical research in Luxembourg, on the fundamental and clinical level as well as in the field of new biotechnologies in support of the health system, will be reinforced, thus increasing the competitiveness and mobilising the actors in this domain.

The programme presents six priority areas:

  • cancer
  • cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases
  • new strategies for immunology intervention
  • development of expression libraries for the functional and topographical targeting of complex biological systems
  • epidemiology
  • intelligent data-processing environments in the field of health

The aim of the extension "Medical Aspects of Ageing" is to study the epidemiological, psychosocial and biological aspects of the neurodegenerative diseases of old age in Luxembourg and to view them against the broader European canvas. In line with the EU research programme on 'medical and social challenges posed by an ageing population and the disabilities associated with old age' (Official Journal of 15 November 2000), the approach taken is a holistic one, i.e. multidisciplinary and multidimensional. Priority is given to projects which are multidisciplinary and interactive, involving players from different specialist backgrounds.

Objectives:

  • to improve the skills of the biomedical community in Luxembourg and the transfer of knowledge concerning pathologies linked to ageing of the brain
  • to correlate medical, epidemiological, psychosocial and biological aspects
  • to improve the prevention of cerebrovascular accidents (strokes)
  • to acquire innovative detection methods for neurodegenerative diseases, depression, sleep disorders and chronic pain in the elderly
  • to devise new specific treatment strategies for the above pathologies
  • to improve the care of the patients and their families to develop new therapies
  • to develop new therapies

The aim, in pursuing these objectives, is to attain an internationally recognised level of medical and scientific competence and to ensure that work done under this programme meshes with other national and international projects.

Closed Projects