Manchester researcher awarded €1.5m ERC grant to revolutionise early detection of brain diseases
A leading nanomedicine researcher has secured a €1.5m (£1.3m) European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to push forward pioneering research on Alzheimer’s disease and glioblastoma.
The five-year project, NanoNeuroOmics, aims to combine breakthroughs in nanotechnology, protein analysis, and blood biomarker discovery to make advances in two key areas. Led by Dr. Marilena Hadjidemetriou, the team will first explore the use of nanoparticles to enrich and isolate brain-disease specific protein biomarkers in blood. These discoveries could pave the way for simple, reliable blood tests that diagnose Alzheimer’s and glioblastoma in their early stages.
Second, the research will investigate the phenomenon of ‘inverse comorbidity,’ which suggests that having one of these conditions may reduce the risk of developing the other. Dr. Hadjidemetriou and her team will explore this surprising relationship to uncover any deeper biological connection that could lead to new treatment pathways.
Dr Marilena Hadjidemetriou explains: “Our goal isn’t just to discover new blood biomarkers, but to gain deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms that govern neurological conditions. By linking changes in the blood to what’s happening in the brain, we aim to uncover vital connections. This approach has the potential to transform early diagnosis and treatment for both Alzheimer’s and glioblastoma, shedding light on the mysterious link between these diseases and ultimately transforming patient outcomes.”
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