ERA-NET E-Rare: two projects with Swiss partners approved

This picture shows a woman researcher in a medical laboratory© Keystone

E-Rare is a coordination action that launched its 5th call for "European Research Projects on Rare Diseases". Funding organisations and ministries from 14 countries participated in this call. Among the twelve projects selected for funding are two with Swiss participation.

A total of 179 consortium proposals from 14 countries went through a highly selective evaluation process. Both projects with Swiss participation are financed over three years by the funding organisations of the partner countries as well as the SNSF.

The project EURIMICRO on "Primary monogenic microcephalies: from genetics to physiopathology and clinics" with the Swiss partner Anita Rauch (University of Zurich) aims to explore the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology underlying primary microcephalies (PMs). PMs are rare heterogeneous disorders resulting from insufficient production of mature neurons. The consortium involving researchers from five countries (France, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and Switzerland) wants to improve patient care and to become a scientific resource centre for patients with PM in Europe.

Carsten Wagner (University of Zurich) is involved in the project IIH-ECC on "Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia: European-Canadian consortium" with research partners from Canada and Germany. This project focuses on idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH), a rare genetic condition characterised by hypercalcemia and nephrocalcinosis with unknown long-term implications and limited therapies. The consortium aims to provide better methods for diagnosis, monitoring and long-term surveillance as well as new approaches for treatment of IIH and related hypercalcemic conditions.