ERA-NET Neuron call: Cerebrovascular Diseases

Maintenance, improvement, and restoration of human health are of fundamental importance and a worldwide priority. Neurological disorders are major causes of death, morbidity and long-term disability. Among the neurological disorders, cerebrovascular diseases contribute more than half of the burden in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYS) and 85% of deaths associated to neurological conditions, globally. Stroke represents by itself the second leading cause of death and accounts for 143 million DALYS worldwide in 2019; with increasing figures towards 2030. The relative contribution to health burden of these neurological disorders is near twice as important in Europe as compared to other regions in the world representing 45 billion euros of expenditure including care and a heavy societal burden. Although the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to specific cerebrovascular diseases are not completely understood, changes of cerebral small vessels and the malfunction of brain barriers as well as other changes such as immune responses have been identified as conditions frequently associated to the development of stroke and vascular cognitive dysfunction. Focused translational research in these areas is thus a priority in order to promote healthy living in Europe and worldwide.

To address this topic, the ‘Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research’ (NEURON) aims to coordinate research efforts and funding programmes across Europe and beyond to promote disease-related biomedical research on cerebrovascular diseases. NEURON particularly wishes to encourage multidisciplinary approaches and translational research proposals combining basic and clinical research that will ultimately help to develop new strategies for prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation. With this aim, a Call for Research Proposals on Cerebrovascular Diseases including Small Vessel and Brain Barrier Dysfunction will be launched in 2022.