Neuroscience is rapidly becoming one of the world’s largest and most important scientific endeavors. Yet it is not yet a world endeavor. Know-how and resources are concentrated in relatively few countries. Laboratories in the EU’s Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC) struggle to keep up.
Yet brain dysfunction is a critical problem not only for EU but also for the MPC. The MPC countries face a heavy economic and social burden due to the impact of child malnutrition on cognitive development, the increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), as well as mental and addictive disorders (schizophrenia, depression). In short basic and translational research on brain function and dysfunction will be an MPC priority for many decades to come.
The goal of N€UROMED is to facilitate the process, building a new kind of partnership between established Neuroscience labs in France, Italy and Spain and emerging centers in the Mediterranean Partner Countries (Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco), NEUROMED will help these centers to build capacity, to attract new staff, and to strengthen their research infrastructure, preparing them for full and effective participation in EU research programmes.
The project is funded by the Capacity’s Programme - part of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) - the European Union’s seven year Research and Development Program.