Dementia research: now and in the future
DEMENTIA RESEARCH
The exact causes behind neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s remain unknown to this day. Researching these conditions is highly complex, particularly as they tend to quietly develop over the course of decades. As a result, in Switzerland we are currently only able to treat symptoms, but not the causes behind them.
«Despite the major leaps made in research over the past 30 years, a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia is still unable to obtain adequate treatment”, confirms Philip Scheltens, member of the Synapsis Foundation Scientific Advisory Board. “We urgently need to improve our understanding of the underlying processes in the brain and diagnose the disease before the onset of dementia.»
Prof. PhD. Philip Scheltens, MD, PhD.
Early detection is key
By the time the first indications of dementia have appeared, the brain has already sustained significant damage. The first pathological changes in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients take place over 20 years before the first symptoms manifest. Once the first neurological symptoms become apparent, the brain has already been irreversibly damaged. With this in mind, the earlier the disease is detected and treatment can be introduced, the better. This is why new, easily applicable diagnostic methods for early detection are crucial. Scientists aim to use these methods to prevent further damage to the brain before the onset of symptoms.
Improved knowledge on the occurrence of dementias
While there may be several treatments available to slow the progression of dementias and alleviate symptoms, there still is no cure. Despite strong research, we still don’t have the knowledge we require about the causes behind neuronal cell death in the brain. More fundamental research is required to obtain a better understanding of the disease progression and develop effective treatments.
For a long time, Alzheimer's research focused on removing the characteristic protein deposits in the brain or preventing them from occurring in the first place. Researchers may have succeeded in reducing the protein as a result, but this has yet to be found to lead to any major improvements in cognitive abilities. Aducanumab is such a drug, approved for use in the USA in June 2021. The drug works by removing the amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's in the brain. The drug has not been approved for use in Europe as its effectiveness is yet to be proven beyond doubt. The effectiveness of other drugs such as gantenerumab, which also works to counter plaque in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, is currently being tested in clinical trials. Timing plays a crucial role in the treatment of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia: The sooner you can intervene in the disease progression, the stronger the effect you can hope to have
Lecanemab (Leqembi)
In the course of 2022, various other clinical trials were discontinued due to insufficient efficacy. At the end of November 2022, there was finally positive news to report: the pharmaceutical companies Eisai and Biogen presented the results of their study with the monoclonal antibody Lecanemab. Lecanemab also reduces amyloid deposits in the brain. However, this agent was shown to slow cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment. However, even this active ingredient can only delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease, but not stop it. In January 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA approved a fast-track approval for lecanemab. On July 6, 2023, the FDA definitively approved lecanemab as the first Alzheimer's drug in the United States. Lecanemab combats not only the symptoms but also the cause of Alzheimer's disease. This approval is a major step forward in Alzheimer's research and gives Alzheimer's patients new perspectives. However, the cost of the new drug who called Leqembi is quite high, with a list price of 26,500 dollars in the USA.
On September 25, 2023, the Japanese regulatory agency became the second regulatory agency, after the FDA in the U.S., to approve lecanemab for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
When can we expect to see Lecanemab in Switzerland? The application to Swissmedic was submitted in May. A decision is expected by the end of 2024. Until then, lecanemab will only be produced in Switzerland.
Donanemab (Kinsula)
On July 2, 2024, the active ingredient donanemab from the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly was fully approved in the USA for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Marketed under the name Kisunla, the drug is based on the removal of amyloid plaques. It is used to treat adults in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia.
In the pivotal Phase 3 trial, Kisunla slowed cognitive and functional decline by up to 35% after 18 months compared to the control group and reduced the risk of participants progressing to the next clinical stage of the disease by up to 39%.
Kisunla is the first drug available that is used for a limited period of time to remove amyloid plaques. Once-monthly infusions lasting 30 minutes reduced amyloid plaques by an average of 84% compared to the start of the study.
However, severe side effects can also occur with Kisunla, such as temporary swelling in the brain or cerebral hemorrhages. It is not yet known if and when Kisunla will be approved in Switzerland.
The many faces of dementia
There is not one sole type of dementia. And there may never be a universal cure for every type of the disease. Researchers believe there are several factors involved in the occurrence of dementing illnesses, including inflammatory reactions or the energy supply to neurons. More scientific research is urgently required to understand the links between these individual factors and how they ultimately result in a loss of neurons in the brain.
Preventing dementia with a healthy lifestyle
According to studies, over 30% of dementia cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. These findings were confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its guidelines on preventing dementia. Scientists are currently looking for suitable ways to reduce each individual's risk of developing dementia, including methods to improve sleep quality.
Research grants
WHAT DOES RESEARCH FUNDING ACHIEVE?
Dementia Research Switzerland - Synapsis Foundation supports research into dementing illnesses and other neurodegenerative disorders conducted by scientists at Swiss universities and other research institutes with the aim of gaining new information on dementia.
WHAT DOES THE SYNAPSIS FOUNDATION FUND?
Research areas
As an independent funding organization, we fund basic research and clinical research into Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
The projects we fund aim to
- gain new insights into the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's
- develop innovative diagnostic methods for early detection
- investigale effective treatments
Young researchers
The foundation places a particular emphasis on funding young, highly talented researchers. Targeted funding programmes enable the foundation to attract the best and most creative talented scientists to research neurodegenerative disorders and establish new research groups.
By following this forward-thinking approach, the foundation is sustainably investing in more research to prevent memory loss.
HOW DOES FUNDING WORK?
Promoting competition through public calls for projects
Each year, the foundation publishes a public call for new research projects throughout Switzerland. From among the submissions, 6 to 10 projects are selected. The selected projects receive 2 to 4 years of funding by the foundation amounting to up to CHF 100,000 annually. The foundation requires periodic reporting and project monitoring to ensure the funds are used as intended.
Promoting Switzerland as a research location
As a research location, Switzerland offers optimum conditions for making a significant contribution to the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. First applications can only be submitted by scientists that work at a university or other public research institute in Switzerland.
Selecting outstanding project proposals
Our scientific advisory committee works with international experts to review the submitted research proposals. They focus on the innovative nature, quality and feasibility of the proposed project. This peer review process enables us to ensure that only the best research projects are selected and recommended to the Board of Trustees for funding. The Board of Trustees is responsible for deciding which projects will receive funding in the upcoming years.
Projects sorted by most recent
Dementia Research Switzerland - Synapsis Foundation has made waves in the world of dementia research since 2003 thanks to the loyal support of our donors.
«A Spotlight on Women’s Brain Health: Investigating Tauopathies in Alzheimer’s Disease through Brain Connectivity Mapping»
Prof. Gilles Allali, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) & Université de Lausanne (UNIL)
«Bioengineering of hallucinations for early dementia detection»
Prof. Dr. med. Olaf Blanke, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
«Cognitive impairment in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease: focus on neuroinflammation»
Dr. med. Valentina Garibotto, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
«Structure Activity Relationship of the Parkinson’ disease polymorph of alpha-synuclein»
PhD Jason Greenwald, Institut für Molekulare Physikalische Wissenschaft (IMPS) ETH Zürich
«Unraveling the Roles of Primary Cilia and Microvilli in Transducing Protein Aggregates- Induced Toxicity in Neurodegenerative Diseases»
«Microglial TDP-43-dependent regulation of RNA splicing and cellular function in neurodegeneration»
PhD Rosa Chiara Paolicelli, Department of Biomedical Sciences (DSB) Université de Lausanne
«Development of gene therapy for granulin-related neurodegeneration»
Prof. Dr. med. Janine Reichenbach, Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM) Universität Zürich
«Understanding the life cycle of α-synuclein in synucleinopathies»
PhD Tetiana Serdiuk, Institute of Molecular Systems ETH Zürich
«Characterizing mechanisms of Amyloid-beta mediated enhanced forgetting and learning defects in a Drosophila model»
Prof. Dr. Simon G. Sprecher, Faculté des sciences et de médecine Université de Fribourg
«The role of DEAD-box ATPases in RNA-mediated mechanisms of repeat expansion toxicity»
PhD Karsten Weis, Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology ETH Zürich
«Cellular reprogramming to rescue memory in Alzheimer’s disease»
Prof. Johannes Gräff, EPFL Lausanne
«Tau RT-QuIC analysis in skin biopsies: a potential novel and non-invasive biomarker for patients with tauopathies»
Giorgia Melli, PhD, University of Lugano
«Augmentation of basal forebrain gamma oscillations in a rat model of Down syndrome (DS) as novel therapeutic approach for DS and Alzheimer disease»
Prof. Gregor Rainer, University of Freiburg
«ApoE particle composition defines its functions»
Jerome Robert, PhD, University of Zurich
«Developing nanopore as a diagnostic tool for the direct detection of post-translational modifications on neurodegenerative disease peptides»
Chan Cao, PhD, University of Geneva
«Identification of genetic modulators of prion transfer via genome wide CRISPR screens»
Elena De Cecco, PhD, University of Zurich
«The effect of locus coeruleus on the hippocampus during memory formation in Alzheimer’s disease»
Xiaomin Zhang, PhD, University of Zurich
«Elucidation of the role of brain barriers on fluid drainage and antibody access in Alzheimer’s disease»
Steven Proulx, PhD, University of Bern
«Real-life activity tracking as pre-screening tool for early stages of Alzheimer disease»
Prof. Dr. Nicolas Langer, University of Zurich
«A quantitative single cell approach to measure protein turnover perturbations in human neurons»
Prof. David Suter, EPFL
«Similarities and differences between Alzheimer`s and vascular dementia concerning aberrant hippocampal network coding causing spatial memory impairment»
Dr. med. Anna-Sophia Wahl, University of Zurich
«Noradrenergic control of mammalian sleep architecture and arousability – towards novel sleep biomarkers for preclinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease»
Prof. Anita Lüthi, University of Lausanne
«Association between wake theta activity and levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease: A case-control study»
PD Dr. med. Salvatore Galati, University of Southern Switzerland (USI)
«Rationally designed peptides to inhibit prion toxicity»
Ioana-Mariuca Ilie, PhD, University of Zurich
«Dissecting phagocytosis-deficient microglia in Alzheimer’s and Prion diseases via genome-wide CRISPR screens»
Jiang-An Yin, PhD, University Hospital Zurich
«Getting new insights out of failed AD trials»
Prof. Andreas Monsch, Memory Clinic / University of Basel
«Novel, specific protein structural biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Dis-ease, and Dementia with Lewy Bodies»
Prof. Paola Picotti, ETH Zürich
«Improving sleep to prevent cognitive decline»
Marc Züst, PhD, University of Bern
«Brain-derived extracellular vesicles as diagnostic tool for tauopathies»
Prof. Nicolas Toni, Lausanne University Hospital - CHUV
«Neuropeptidergic modulation of serotonin signaling as a basis for differential anxiety and fear responses to SSRI treatments in patients with mild cognitive impairments»
Prof. Ron Stoop, CHUV, University of Lausanne
«Regulation of reversible amyloids and stress granule maturation by cytosolic pH»
Prof. Matthias Peter, ETH Zurich
«Sleep as an opportunistic window for memory improvements in AD/FTD/FTD-ALS»
PhD Antoine Adamantidis, University of Bern
«Astrocyte mitochondria and neuronal function: A novel axis for Alzheimer's disease treatment»
Prof. Jean-Yves Chatton, University of Lausanne
«Interplay of cellular and molecular memory mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease»
Maria Sol Fustiñana, PhD, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research
«Using super-resolution microscopy to unravel the physiological and pathological roles of TDP-43 liquid-liquid phase separation»
Pierre De Rossi, PhD, University of Zurich
«Home-based transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for patients with Alzheimer’s disease»
Lucie Bréchet, PhD, University of Geneva
«The Neuronal Basis of Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease – Investigating the Role of Lateral Substantia Nigra Circuits on Cognitive Dysfunctions»
Sabine Krabbe, PhD, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
«Ultrastructure of Parkinson’s pathology in post-mortem human brain»
Amanda Lewis, PhD, EPFL
«The role of astrocytic fatty acid b-oxidation in health and in Alzheimer’s disease»
Prof. Marlen Knobloch, University of Lausanne
«Astrocyte development and function in primary familial brain calcification»
Annika Keller, PhD, Zurich University Hospital
«AD-Nets: Understanding Alzheimer’s phenotype at the level of large neuronal networks in tauopathy-associated dementia»
Prof. Benjamin Grewe, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich
«Stabilization of native Tau as therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease»
Prof. Roland Riek, ETH Zurich
«Prediction of post-stroke cognitive decline and dementia: impact of cognitive reserve and post-stroke life style»
PD Dr. med. Roza Umarova, University Hospital Bern
«Identification of systemic immune cell-related biomarkers for early Alzheimer’s disease progression»
Prof. Roger M. Nitsch, University of Zurich
«Developing nanopore as a diagnostic device for detection of protein post-translational modifications»
Chan Cao, PhD, EPFL
«BRAIN-IT»
Eling D. de Bruin, PhD, ETH Zurich
«Adaptive gamified Body-Brain Training for patients with early Alzheimer’s disease»
Arseny Sokolov, PhD, University Hospital Bern
Publications
Scientific Advisory Board
Our Scientific Advisory Board consists of internationally acclaimed experts from the field of brain disorders. It advises the Board of Trustees on all scientific matters and plays a central role in selecting and monitoring projects that receive funding.
Prof. Esther Stoeckli
Chairwoman
Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich
Prof. Denis Jabaudon
Member
Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
Prof. Mathias Jucker
Member
Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research at the University of Tübingen and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
Prof. Philip Scheltens
Member
Alzheimer’s Centre, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam
Prof. Lucilla Parnetti
Member
University of Perugia
Prof. Dorothee Dormann
Member
Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, Germany
Information for Researchers
Research promotion by Synapsis Foundation – more than just research funding
- More than 120 Research Projects
- More than CHF 30 Mio.
- 9 Scientific Events
FUNDING POSSIBILITIES
Dementia Research Switzerland – Synapsis Foundation collects donations of private and institutional donors to support projects in the field of neurodegeneration research.
- Principal Investigator Grants: Support of innovative projects of established research teams
- Career Development Awards: Support advanced postdoctoral researchers at Swiss Universities and Research Institutions seeking to establish themselves as independent researchers in the field of neurodegenerative disorders
- Booster Fonds: Support of innovative projects that advance research into neurodegenerative diseases in a broader sense.
To accelerate research into neurodegenerative diseases and dementia, the Synapsis Foundation supports projects in the following areas:
- Research in genetics, molecular and cell biology to gain new insights into pathomechanisms
- Innovative clinical approaches towards
- an early diagnosis, including biomarkers
- new therapeutic interventions
- prevention studies
- Novel technological developments, including artificial intelligence/e-health, that support the diagnosis, treatment and prediction of the course of the disease
- Psychosocial interventions for people with dementia
- Proof-of-principle studies
The foundation welcomes high-risk proposals and collaborative projects involving groups from different disciplines.
- Applications can only be submitted by scientists working at a university or other research institution located in Switzerland. In the case of Career Development Awards, funding in an EMBO Member Country is possible, but only in a second phase (following the first phase at a Swiss institution).
- Only one project per main applicant is funded at a time
- Researchers can only apply if they did not receive any funds from Synapsis Foundation for at least one year at the time of application.
Evaluation Criteria:
The Scientific Advisory Board evaluates the submitted research proposals, supported by external experts, according to the following criteria:
- Originality and innovation
- Scientific quality
- Feasibility
- Experience and past performance
- Compliance with application requirements
Evaluation Process
- Evaluation and pre-selection of letters of intent by the Scientific Advisory Board
- Evaluation of full proposals by the Scientific Advisory Board supported by reviews and recommendations of renowned external experts
- Selection Selection of projects to be funded by the Scientific Advisory Board
- Decision on funding of selected projects by the Board of Trustees
CALLS FOR PROPOSALS
The call for proposals 2024 is closed. The next call will be published at the end of March 2025.
The application tool has been closed. Applications will not be possible before the 2025 call for proposals.
- 31 March 2024: Publication of Call for Proposals 2024
- 5 May 2024: Submission deadline for letter of intent
- 10 June 2024: Invitation to submit a full proposal for the best-rated project outlines
- 14 June 2024: Rejection letters sent to unsuccessful applicants
- 10 July 2024: Submission deadline for full proposal
- 23 November 2024: Decision of the Board of Trustees on projects to be funded
- Mid December 2024: Communication to applicants regarding funding/rejection
- January to March 2025: Preparation and signing of the grant agreements
SCIENTIFIC EVENTS
In order to improve networking and the exchange of knowledge between scientists from different disciplines and institutions, Synapsis Foundation organizes events for researchers. The intention is to support the establishment of new research collaborations and to make optimal use of synergies.
CONTACT
Heide Marie Hess
Liaison Officer Research
Phone number: +41 44 271 35 11
Email address: hess_at_demenz-forschung.ch