Mar 10 2009
The Center for Translational Molecular Medicine (CTMM) - the Dutch public-private partnership committed to the research and development of new techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases - today announced that eight new research projects will receive funding from the CTMM. It means that almost 250 million Euro has now been allocated to Netherlands-based translational projects that could radically improve patient outcomes for diseases such as Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, cardiovascular disorders and the most important forms of cancer.
The eight new projects, each of which comprises a consortium of clinical and industrial partners, involve 13 leading university medical centers and research institutes, 29 expert SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) and 15 major industrial players. 50% of the funding for these new projects is being contributed by the Dutch Government. The other 50% will come from industry and academia.
In line with the CTMM?s original business plan, the newly approved projects include projects that target cancer, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. They also include projects to develop innovative new technology platforms, such as new medical imaging techniques, that can be applied across a broad spectrum of these diseases. The need for broad-based technology platforms in translational molecular medicine is underlined by the fact that all three technical universities that make up the Netherlands? 3TU.Federation (Delft, Eindhoven and Twente) are now involved in the CTMM.
Speaking on behalf of the 3TU.Federation, Amandus Lundqvist, President of the Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e) said, “By applying our combined expertise in areas such as bio-nano applications, ICT systems and applied technology to CTMM projects, we believe we can help to boost the competitive position and innovative power of the Dutch knowledge-based society as well as improve the well-being of its people.”
Following advice from its International Scientific Advisory Committee, the CTMM will continue to provide selective investments in centralised infrastructures for CTMM projects to address the rapidly increasing demand for advanced genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics. In close collaboration with the other major Dutch translational programs in the life sciences (TI Pharma, BMM, NGI and the „String of Pearls Initiative?), these efforts will substantially strengthen the translational research climate in the Netherlands.