Concept and objectives of the IMPACT-G project

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to improve our understanding of neural communication mechanisms in health and disease.

Although there are quite a number of neuroscience institutions in Europe conducting high quality research, there is a growing need for research and development in this field. The Neuroscience Group at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University (EMAU) Greifswald is located in a convergence region, and the paucity of high-tech, expensive equipment for research, the lack of a critical mass of experienced researchers, a reduced level of experience and knowledge of researchers as well as fewer international collaborations with highly competitive groups put severe limitations on the impact of our publications and our capacity to attract research funds from EU programs.

Therefore the major aim of this proposal is to readdress this imbalance by:

− Stimulating the exploitation of the full research potential of our Neuroscience Group by acquisition of cutting-edge technology and equipment,

− Increasing the quality and international impact of our research by cooperation with high-profile institutions and recruitment of experienced researchers.

Activities to achieve the major objectives:

1. Acquisition, development or upgrading of research equipment of the Neuroscience Group at the Medical Faculty, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald. Although we do have access to some high-tech equipment including a new 7-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Tomograph at the Medical Faculty, the Neuroscience Group in Greifswald does not have critical items like a confocal microscope devoted to live imaging and molecular physiology.

2. Recruitment of incoming experienced researchers. The Neuroscience Group in Greifswald does not have a critical mass of skilled researchers. Therefore a team of 6 researchers will be recruited. Each of them will be involved in collaborative research involving at least two network laboratories.

3. Improve S&T experience and knowledge of researchers by exchange of know-how and experience with scientific experts from several Strategic Partners.

4. The network will have a strong focus on training of the integrative researchers and other young scientists in the participating laboratories. The training includes practical applications with acquired equipment and collaborative sessions with several strategic partners, (1) Institute of Brain Research in Zurich, Switzerland; (2) Institute of Neuropathology, Zurich, Switzerland; (3) Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University, UK; (4) Physiology and Pathophysiology of Human Motor Control Research Group at the Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK, and (5) the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Neural Stem Cell Biology, University of Lund, Sweden.

5. Organization of three workshops with international participation to facilitate knowledge transfer at international level.

6. Plenary meetings. Each year there will be a plenary meeting involving all the members of the Neuroscience Group in Greifswald, the integrative researchers and members of our Strategic Partners who will be invited as plenary speakers. At the plenary meetings there will be a press office and access for patient groups.

7. Dissemination and promotional activities like a Neuroscience GroupÂ’s Webpage and Booklets on Regenerative Medicine and Stroke.

These measures should allow us to successfully participate in and contribute to EU Framework Programme projects.