One promising approach for the treatment of PD is cellular brain repair whereby the cells that have died in the condition are replaced by transplantation of healthy cells into the brain. However, this approach has faced several limitations including poor survival of the transplanted cells in the PD brain. To address this limitation, we have recently shown that biomaterials - that is, materials that have been specifically engineered to interact with living systems for therapeutic purposes – have the potential to dramatically improve cellular brain repair for PD.
Research
DRNI Members Research is a list of ongoing and completed research carried out by DRNI members.
You can search via project type, disease, or Principal Investigator/Researcher name.
Search
Research type
Disease area
BrainMatTrain focuses on a comprehensive understanding of Parkinson’s disease, from basics to translation, fully supported by eight full partners (four research institutions, two hospitals, two SMEs) and one partner organisation (SME specialist in device design). This European Training Network will educate and train 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in functionalised biomaterials, materials science, functionalisation strategies, molecular biology, stem cell biology, in vitro model systems, in vivo neuroimaging, preclinical models and prototype design.
1. Overview of Research Plans.
The aim is to evaluate the utility of a Connected Health model in supporting people with dementia and their carergivers in sustaining the patient at home. We propose that the CH model allows enhanced information- sharing between patient, carergiver and healthcare team, enabling streamlined clinical management, empowering the caregiver and enhancing the ability of the caregiver/patient dyad to cope.
Project Aim(s):
(i) To Identify tiRNA/sncRNA fingerprints in AD, ALS, FTD and PD human disease i-neurons.
(ii) To determine if tiRNAs affect the survival of i-neurons from controls and ALS, PD and FTD models.
Funded by the Atlantic Philantropies and supported by the Department of Health, Creating Excellence in Dementia Care: A Research Reivew for Ireland’s National Dementia Stratergy presents key findings emerging from a research review conducted to inform the development of Ireland’s future National Dementia Strategy.
Funded by the Atlantic Philantropies and supported by the Department of Health, Creating Excellence in Dementia Care: A Research Reivew for Ireland’s National Dementia Stratergy presents key findings emerging from a research review conducted to inform the development of Ireland’s future National Dementia Strategy.
DARES is a three-year mixed methods project funded by the Health Research Board which aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational reminiscence programme for staff. Using a cluster randomized trial it aims to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the reminiscence-based programme on levels of agitation exhibited by residents with dementia and on staff attitude towards residents with dementia and perceived care burden.