Research Programme on Neuroscience

International Research

Programme on Neuroscience2006 – 2009

• Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience,• Diseases of the Nervous System,• Neuroinformatics and Neurotechnology, and• Ethical, Philosophical and Socio-Cultural

Aspects Related to Neuroscience.

CHALLENGES OF THE NEURO PROGRAMME

Neuroscience research is multidisciplinary and broad-based by nature, combining, for example, biomedical research, information technology, philosophy and psychology. A key challenge is to link different areas of the research to each other and to work towards a synthesis between these. The Research Programme on Neuroscience seeks to achieve this goal by bringing fragmented research environments together, promoting the introduction of new methods and supporting versatile researcher

NEUROSCIENCE ADVANCING FAST

Only a few decades ago, neuroscience hardly existed as an independent discipline. Today,

there are hundreds of training programmes in neuroscience, which is one of the most exciting areas of modern science. Without doubt, the role of neuroscience is constantly increasing in various fields of society. Neuroscientists have made startling discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the healthy brain and helped to treat disorders affecting millions of people. Moreover, breaking its conventional boundaries, neuroscience has an increasing influence on the development of new intelligent technologies.

The NEURO programme consists of the following core themes:

• Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience,• Nervous System Development, Plasticity and

Repair,s

The Research Programme on Neuroscience (NEURO) is a four-year programme between Finland, Canada and China providing funding for cutting-edge neuroscience research in the participating countries. The programme involves 16 Finnish, four Finnish-Chinese and three Finnish-Canadian research projects. It provides simultaneous, coordinated funding for the projects during 2006–2009. The programme is also aimed at strengthening collaboration with neuroscience research programmes and doctoral programmes in other countries. NEURO is funded by the Academy of Finland, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Research Programme on Neuroscience 2006–2009

NEURO in brief

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training. The goal is to create high-level, cross-border projects, where topical issues within neuroscience can be approached with genuine multidisciplinarity. NEURO aims to produce new knowledge on, for example, memory, learning, social interaction, anxiety as well as neurological diseases and their treatment.

The objectives of the NEURO programme are:

• to promote high-quality, multi- and interdisciplinary research in neuroscience

in the participating countries, • to establish more effective networking and

collaboration between researchers in Canada, China and Finland,

• to enhance the application of advanced technologies in neuroscience,

• to promote researcher training, and• to accelerate the exchange of new scientific

knowledge among scientists and between scientists and other interest groups.

Photos: Tapio Heino´s research group, futureimagebank.com

Layout: Sole Lätti

Yliopistopaino, Helsinki 2006

WHO: Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2002

Neurological diseases cost society approximately ten times as

much as cancer.

Just as the environment, the nervous system is plastic and flexible.

The human brain holds about 100 billion nerve cells. They form

a network in which each cell is interlinked to hundreds, or maybe

even thousands of other nerve cells. The human brain is the most

complex cell-biological system known. No wonder the brain has

always intrigued researchers.

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Disease Adjusted Life Years (DALY) Death rate

Neuropsychiatric diseases

Neuropsychiatric diseases

Finland 29% 10.00%

Canada 32% 8.00%

China 18% 1.00%

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PROJECTS FUNDED

INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS

Social Brain in Interaction

Riitta Hari, Professor, Helsinki University of Technology

The Development of the Social Brain: An affective view

Jari Hietanen, Professor, University of Tampere

Mechanisms of Light Adaptation in Photoreceptor Cells:

Phototransduction Protein and Ion Trafficking between the

Functional Compartments of Rods

Ari Koskelainen, Professor, Helsinki University of Technology

Development and Functioning of Very Low Birth Weight

Infants from Infancy to School Age (PIPARI)

Liisa Lehtonen, Docent, Turku University Hospital

Modulation of Pain and Working Memory Following

Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of

Segregated Corticostriatal Fiber Tracts in Humans

Antti Pertovaara, Professor, University of Helsinki

New Methods for Measuring Cortical Dopaminergic

Regulation: Towards Neuroinformatics of Synaptic

Neurotransmission in Humans

Juha Rinne, Professor, University of Turku

CONSORTIA

Bringing the Natural Auditory Environment into the

Laboratory

Paavo Alku, Professor, Helsinki University of Technology

Patrick May, Academy Research Fellow, University of Helsinki

Hannu Tiitinen, Academy Research Fellow, University of

Helsinki

Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Animal Models of

Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Role of Inflammation

Outi Hovatta, Professor, University of Tampere

Jari Koistinaho, Professor, University of Kuopio

Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, Academy Professor, University of

Kuopio

Extrastriate Visual Processing: Integration of

Computational, Psychophysical and Imaging Approaches

Aapo Hyvärinen, Docent, University of Helsinki

Jussi Saarinen, University Lecturer, University of Helsinki

Simo Vanni, Researcher, Helsinki University of Technology

The Neurobiology of Dyslexia and Reading Ability

Juha Kere, Professor, University of Helsinki

Eero Castrén, Professor, University of Helsinki

Perttu Lindsberg, Academy Research Fellow, Helsinki

University Central Hospital

Neuronal Effectors for Pim Kinases

Päivi Koskinen, Docent, University of Turku

Eleanor Coffey, PhD, Åbo Akademi University

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The Roles of Actin-binding Proteins MIM and ABBA1

in the Development of the Central Nervous System

Pekka Lappalainen, Professor, University of Helsinki

Marjo Salminen, Academy Research Fellow, University of

Helsinki

Unraveling the Disease Mechanisms in Progressive

Myoclonus Epilepsy, EPM1

Anna-Elina Lehesjoki, Professor, University of Helsinki

Reetta Kälviäinen, MD, PhD, Kuopio University Hospital

Neurophilosophy of Consciousness

Antti Revonsuo, Professor, University of Turku

Harry Scheinin, Professor, University of Turku

Novel Neurotrophic Factors for Mammals and

Invertebrates

Mart Saarma, Professor, University of Helsinki

Tapio Heino, Docent, University of Helsinki

The Neurocognitive Basis of Learning and Its Changes

at Different Stages of Development

Elisabet Service, Docent, University of Helsinki

Matti Laine, Professor, Åbo Akademi University

Riitta Salmelin, Professor, Helsinki University of

Technology

INTERNATIONAL JOINT PROJECTS

Functional Dissociation between Memory and Attention

in Prefrontal Cortex of People and Monkeys

Synnöve Carlson, Academy Research Fellow, University of

Helsinki

Yuanye Ma, Professor, Kunming Institute of Zoology,

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Structure and Biology of GDNF Signalling Systems

Adrian Goldman, Professor, University of Helsinki

Jiawei Zhou, Professor, Institute of Biochemistry and

Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Development of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying

Neuron-astrocyte Control of Cerebral Blood Flow

Kai Kaila, Academy Professor, University of Helsinki

Brian A. McVicar, Professor, University of British Columbia

Early Detection of Neurodegenerative and Psychiatric

Diseases Based on fMRI Analysis of Spontaneous

Brain Activity

Vesa Kiviniemi, MD, PhD, Oulu University Hospital

Zang Yu-Feng, Professor, Institute of Automation, Chinese

Academy of Sciences

Neurobiology and Genetics of Anxiety

Esa Korpi, Professor, University of Helsinki

Iiris Hovatta, PhD, National Public Health Institute

Wang Jinhui, Professor, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese

Academy of Sciences

Integration of Growth Factor Signals Regulating Cellular

Differentiation in Embryonic Midbrain-hindbrain Region

Juha Partanen, Academy Research Fellow, University of

Helsinki

Timothy Hughes, Professor, University of Toronto

Inflammatory Mechanisms in Neuronal Injury

Heikki Rauvala, Professor, University of Helsinki

Sirpa Jalkanen, Academy Professor, University of Turku

Marko Salmi, Researcher, National Public Health Institute

Paul Kubes, Professor, University of Calgary

Other funding agencies:

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) is one of the 13 institutes of CIHR. INMHA supports research on the functioning and disorders of the brain, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems and the mind. (www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca)

Further information Mika Tirronen, Programme Managermika.tirronen@aka.fiTiina Tembe, Project Secretarytiina.tembe@aka.fi

Academy of Finland, tel. +358 9 774 881

Programme web pages: www.aka.fi/neuro

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) was founded in February 1986 with the approval of the State Council. It is an institution for the management of the National Natural Science Fund, aimed at promoting and financing basic research and some applied research in China. Ever since its establishment, NSFC has continuously stressed the importance of international cooperation and exchange. (www.nsfc.gov.cn)

National Science Foundation of China

Dr LU RongkaiDirector of Division / NSFClurk@nsfc.gov.cn

Astrid Eberhart, Assistant DirectorINMHA/CIHR; aeberhart@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Vilhonvuorenkatu 6 • POB 99, FI-00501 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358 9 774 881 • Fax +358 9 7748 8299

www.aka.fi/eng • keskus@aka.fi