Improving quality of life for Autism Spectrum Disorders patients by promoting strategies for early diagnosis and preventive measures
Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia PsychiatryHospital ·Romania
About this project
<p><br> Autism has been at the forefront of basic and clinical research worldwide. It have been proven that the identification of new etiologic/risk factors, as well as early diagnosis - thus allowing early therapeutic approaches -, have great beneficial effects on patients’ condition and on the overall costs supported by the society. Although a great amount of information has been accumulating at a very high speed, the clinical heterogeneity, complex genetic architecture and multisystemic characteristic of autism pose particular challenges for healthcare professionals. Thus, autism still require refined clinical, imagistic, genetic, and computing tools for characterization as well as translation into knowledge databases and ultimately to clinical practice. The present project is an example of a translational approach, from clinical characteristics, neurobiological and genetic mechanisms to clinical populations, and thus very relevant for human diseases and health. By consolidating a knowledge database, both Romanian and Norwegian teams aim to increase the application of research results in the field of autism. The complex evaluation of a big cohort of patients with autism will contribute not only to the establishment of the Romanian Registry for autism, but will also offer important data for estimation of autism prevalence in Romania, for improving the early diagnosis and for a better understanding of its mechanisms. This project brings together a consortium consisting of one Norwegian and two Romanian institutions with strong expertise in their field of activity. The three partners form an integrated multi-disciplinary team with complementary expertise leading to synergy.With the present project, OHP (CO) and the Norwegian partner (OU: University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital) consolidate a network of already established collaboration in the frame of an ERA-NET Neuron project focused on schizophrenia research.</p>
Bilateral cooperation results
The joint activities of our consortium enhanced the expertise and research capability of the Romanian institutions in areas such as clinical and imagistic research, and genomics (next generation sequencing, big data analysis and data management). This collaborative effort increased the scientific level of Romanian research and improved the diagnosis and management of this condition. With the present project, OHP (PP) and the Norwegian partner OU (P1) consolidate and enlarge an already existing collaboration set-up in the frame of an ERA-NET Neuron project focused on schizophrenia research. All the above-mentioned represent the foundation of a long-term partnership between Romania and Norway in the field of the most common psychiatric conditions.
Project partners
- University of Oslo Donor project partner· Norway
- Victor Babes” National Institute of Research and Development in Pathology and Biomedical Sciences Project partner· Romania