The Hope Center awarded seed grants to four promising collaborative research projects in translational neuroscience in January 2008. Translational research aims to “translate” basic scientific information or discoveries into clinical treatments for patients. Although underfunded, it is often the most important aspect in the search for cures.

All the projects are led by Hope Center faculty, involve more than one laboratory and discipline, have a clear application to translational research, show promise of attracting subsequent independent funding, and address a current focal theme of the Hope Center. Current Hope Center research themes are (1) Axon Injury and Regeneration; (2) Protein Folding and Neurodegeneration; and (3) Disorders of Mitochondria and Bioenergetics.

“We received many outstanding submissions and selected four for funding,” said Dr. Mark Goldberg, Scientific Director of the Hope Center. “These outstanding projects address our programmatic goals for interdisciplinary, translational neuroscience and offer great potential for scientific discovery and human therapeutics.”   More