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A Cypriot neurologist based in the United States will play a leading role in a major international research initiative focused on cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a condition linked to strokes, memory problems and dementia in older adults.
Dr. Andreas Charidimou of Boston University and Professor Marcel Verbeek of Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands have secured $9 million from the Leducq Foundation to launch a global research collaboration dedicated to the disease. The funding comes through the foundation’s International Networks of Excellence programme and will support the project for the next five years.
The initiative, known as TRAFFIC (Translational Framework For Innovation in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy), will be jointly coordinated by Boston University and Radboud University Medical Center. Researchers from several countries will take part in the network.
CAA affects the brain’s small blood vessels and is caused by deposits of amyloid-beta protein building up in vessel walls. The condition is a significant contributor to bleeding strokes and is also linked to cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Although CAA is common among older people, diagnosing it at an early stage remains challenging and no treatments specifically targeting the disease are currently available. The TRAFFIC network aims to improve scientific understanding of how the condition develops, identify new biomarkers and support more accurate and earlier detection.
Researchers involved in the project will combine brain imaging technologies, molecular analysis, experimental studies and clinical information collected from patients around the world.
Charidimou said important questions about the origins and progression of CAA remain unanswered, limiting advances in diagnosis and treatment. He explained that the new collaboration brings together expertise from clinical, laboratory and experimental research to address these challenges while also helping train future specialists in the field.
The network includes scientists from the United States, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. Participating institutions include Boston University, Radboud University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and the University of Rhode Island.
According to the announcement, the award reflects the contribution of Cypriot scientists to internationally recognised medical research, particularly in areas connected to ageing populations, stroke prevention and dementia.
