Top EU Scientists in Malta
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Around 100 top EU scientists who are the project partners in a large EU project worth 10 million Euros - EPICURE, Functional Genomics and Neurobiology of Epilepsy: a basis for new therapeutic strategies are meeting in Malta in between January 11 - 13, 2008.
As many as 6 million people in Europe currently have active epilepsy that has major implications, not only on their health but also conditions their independence, education and employement, mobility, personal relationships and prospects for insurance. The resulting economic burden has been estimated at 18 billions Euros per annum (European White Paper on Epilepsy 2001).
Epidemiological observations have led to the consensus that genetic factors play a central role, especially in the so-called idiopathic generalized epilepsies and that maladaptive developmental processes also contribute to epileptogenesis (the development of epilepsy). Precisely what genetic factors are involved, and how they interact with developmental alterations, remains far from established. Moreover, their implication for understanding the principle of drug and other treatments of epilepsy are poorly understood. The EPICURE integrated project aims at mobilizing the potential synergies of the European research groups to shed light on these questions.
EPICURE aims in particular to take advantage of the potentially powerful insights into pathophysiological pathways provided by genetics, both by identifying disease-causing genes and by understanding the contribution of candidate genes to pharmacoresistance.
For further information on the project please contact:
Dr Janet Mifsud
Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
University of Malta
Msida MSD 2080
Tel: +356 2340 2845
Fax: +356 21320281
Email: janet.mifsud@um.edu.mt