New therapies for neurological and psychiatric diseases
Neurological and psychiatric diseases affect millions of people and lead to considerable individual and economic burdens. Researchers at the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence are working on projects that cover all phases of life - from embryonic development to old age. Their aim is to decipher how the brain works in order to investigate diseases such as Alzheimer's, depression, epilepsy, Parkinson's, stroke and schizophrenia in more detail. At the centre of this work is what is known as translation - the direct path from basic research to the treatment room. This is where the NCRC - Neuroscience Clinical Research Centre - plays a key role: findings from the laboratory are translated into clinical studies and offer patients early access to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic options. The research approaches range from molecular methods and imaging techniques to behavioural and neuropsychological examinations. The focus is on developmental disorders, but also diseases such as Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, dementia and epilepsy as well as various psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, addiction and depression. Expertise and state-of-the-art equipment are made available in central facilities to support the research of neuroscientists.
NeuroCure provides unique insights into our biological supercomputer - the brain
The NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence at Charité - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin has been researching neurological and psychiatric diseases and the complex mechanisms of the healthy brain since 2007. Funded by the Excellence Initiative and, since 2019, by the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments, NeuroCure has significantly shaped neuroscientific research in Berlin. With over 40 new research groups and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Cluster of Excellence is sustainably strengthening Berlin as a centre of knowledge and innovation.
A central focus of the Cluster of Excellence is the close connection between basic research and clinical application in order to translate scientific findings into therapies more quickly. A wide range of methods such as molecular analyses and imaging techniques are used. A highlight of NeuroCure's research is the Octapatch, a fascinating instrument that visualises the electrical activity of nerve cells. The Cluster of Excellence thus provides unique insights into our biological supercomputer - the brain.
Aim of the cluster
The aim of NeuroCure is to decipher overarching mechanisms in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, dementia and depression, as well as to develop new treatment approaches. Through this work, NeuroCure is positioning itself as a pioneer in neuroscience. A deeper understanding of the healthy and diseased brain is crucial in order to develop targeted therapies and treat neurological and psychiatric diseases more effectively.
Spokesperson
Prof Dr Dietmar Schmitz | Charité - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin
Applicant universities
Free University of Berlin
Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin as the sponsor of Charité - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin
Participating institutions
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
- Berlin Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)
- Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine (MDC)
Co-operation partner
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)
- German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE)
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens (MPUSP)