 In 2010 Professor Brian Lawlor, with support from the European Clinical Infrastructure Network applied to the European Union Collaborative Project (small- or medium-scale focused research project) under the call HEALTH.2011.2.2.2-1- Investigator-driven clinical trials for therapeutic interventions in elderly populations.
The proposal had two objectives:
NILVAD is a large investigator initiated multicentre European trial in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) that aims to be generalisable, simple, and user friendly. The trial is designed so that AD patients can be recruited easily at the clinical sites and the trial strives to be patient, caregiver and investigator friendly, allowing recruitment of a large number of patients to include frail elderly AD patients with a range of medical co-morbidities.
- To develop a network of investigators across Europe who can lead investigator initiated studies into Alzheimer’s disease.
In April it was announced that the proposal had been successful. The consortium consists of 25 member investigator sites in 10 European countries (Ireland, UK, France, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands) with the potential to add countries and sites over time. There are 18 key partners that bring specific skills and functions that make the network a unique platform to deliver NILVAD and to support future collaboration in Alzheimer ’s disease research.
Professor Lawlor, the project coordinator has over 25 year experience in clinical trials in Alzheimer’s Disease in the USA and Ireland and has gathered together a consortium of renowned experts in the fields of psychopharmacology, clinical trials and assessment and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer Europe, the patient advocacy group is a full partner in this project.
The total value of this grant will be €6 million across 10 European countries. This will be the largest investigator led clinical trial in Alzheimer’s Disease ever conducted in Europe and positions Trinity College, St James’s Hospital and Mercers Institute for Successful Ageing as the leaders in Alzheimer’s Research in Europe.
Commenting on the significance of the clinical trials and research, Professor Brian Lawlor, said: "Considering the devastating health and social cure impact that Alzheimer's disease has on Europeans, there is relatively little research funding made available to tackle this major killer. This research consortium, NILVAD represents a change in this trend in Europe and a step in the right direction. It not only offers hope for a new treatment but also strengthens research networks and collaborations in Europe and means that research developments in Alzheimer's disease can be accelerated for the benefit of all Europeans."
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