Research to develop new techniques for studying wild and transgenic mice's nervous system

Sep 8 2009

Researchers of the Pablo de Olavide University (Seville) have started different projects based on the study of phenotype techniques in mice and their applicability to the pharmaceutical industry and neurodegenerative medicine. It is a research conducted by the group 'División de Neurociencias', led by José María Delgado, that focuses on the development of new techniques for studying the behaviour and physiology of wild and transgenic mice's nervous system.

The goal of these projects, funded by the VIITh Framework Programme of the European Union, the Spanish Ministry of Research and Innovation, and the Spanish Andalusian Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise, is to have a full range of electrophysiological and behavioural techniques, available for contracting by the specialized pharmaceutical industry in order to study pro-cognitive drugs or the effects on the motor and sensorial human system, as well as on learning and memory mechanisms, as a previous stage for its possible application in patients with different diseases (Alzheimer-like dementias, affectation of the motor human system, ataxias, etc.).

As Prof. Delgado explained to Andalucía Innova, 'the study of the behaviour and cognitive capacities in mammals whose biology is very close to humans will allow possible clinic applications in the short or medium term'. In that respect, this group of experts has scientific links to some companies such as French company Syntelabo - Aventis, the USA company Abbot, or Spanish companies Cibertec and Kytos, which has scientific and technological collaboration agreements in regenerative medicine and psychopharmacology. One of the developed products, specifically a pro-cognitive drug of Syntelabo - Aventis, is now in its phase 2, that is, about to be launched into the market.

In this line, these researchers mix with different national and foreign groups of their field of specialisation. So far there are 16 groups interested in this project and their animals are going to undergo trials too.