The actions taken for citizen services will be presented to the general public, for the very first time, by the National Precision Medicine Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (EDIAN). This event is scheduled to take place on March 31, 2022 at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall and the participants will have the opportunity to attend either live or online, upon registration.

EDIAN, an emblematic initiative of the Ministry of Development and Investments, under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation, establishes the country as a co-shaper of the Medicine of the Future for the benefit of society and public health. The Network started its operation in 2020 as a coordinated effort of the domestic research and academic ecosystem in order to address the health challenges of our times, namely the rapid increase of neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia), with initial funding of € 2.2 million, coordinated by the President of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas and Professor at the Medical School of the University of Crete, Nektarios Tavernarakis and co-coordinated by Leonidas Stefanis, Professor of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The event will begin with opening statements by the Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, Dr. Christos Dimas, the Secretary General for Research and Innovation, Professor Athanasios Kyriazis and representatives of patient associations. Professor Constantine Lyketsos of the John Hopkins University, USA, will give a speech entitled “Precision medicine in promoting therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer’s Disease and related diseases”. Representatives from all institutions participating in EDIAN will participate in the event: The Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, The Hellenic Pasteur Institute, The Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, The Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, The University of Patras, The University of Crete and The University of Thessaly. During the event, there will be talks on the various actions of the Network, based on the following objectives:

• The establishment of a National Registry of Neurodegenerative Diseases
• The creation of a Neurodegenerative Disease BioBank
• Biochemical and molecular/genetic analysis of patient-derived biological specimens
• The provision of free genetic tests for the purpose of early preclinical diagnosis
• The evolution of bioinformatics
• The development of novel cellular and animal based models of Neurodegenerative Disease, as well as identification of new neurodegeneration and ageing biomarkers,
• Effective management of research results for the benefit of Public Health

In Greece, neurodegenerative diseases could eventually reach epidemic proportions, considering they afflict tens of thousands of individuals, a number that could more than triple in the following decades. With the available data, the contribution of EDIAN, through the exploitation of the research and the creation of valuable know-how and innovative infrastructures, is considered crucial and catalytic, with multiple benefits for both the patients and the National Health System. For each patient, early diagnosis and individualized treatment implies a more effective overall treatment of the disease and an improved quality of life. For the health system, the new possibilities for rational planning of the patients’ treatment lead to economies of scale, reducing unnecessary costs. At the event, there will be an assessment of the Network’s actions and future goals and challenges will be set, focusing primarily on people and the ever-changing living conditions of modern societies.

More info on EDIAN: https://neuropmnet.gr/

Event Registration: https://www.eventora.com/el/Events/edian