Neurodegenerative Diseases Networks (NeuroNet)

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), or Huntington's 
disease (HD) affect millions of people and are devastating for the patients. A common 
feature is the formation of plaques of misfolded proteins in the brain. The molecular 
mechanisms of neurodegeneration are still largely unclear, although some lines of 
evidence suggest that similar molecular programs may be altered in these illnesses.
As part of an alliance of nine research groups, we have started to establish an 
integrated genome research network for the systematic analysis of connections between
neurodegenerative diseases. Our aim is to combine functional genomics and proteomics 
with bioinformatics to predict alterations in the molecular networks of neurodegenerative disease processes.
The subprojects of NeuroNet are organised as closely interconnected modules.

Module 1 is responsible for the systematic generation of protein-protein interaction and 
phenotype networks.

In module 2, the generated networks and predicted disease pathways 
are systematically perturbed by RNAi and drug molecules to gain insight into the 
interplay of network structure and function.

Module 3 stores, integrates, and processes the results from modules 1 and 2 and exchanges information.

The central research perspective of NeuroNet is to construct connectivity maps from 
the information generated in the subprojects to point out new links between disease 
proteins, phenotypes, and small molecules.