Clinical Research at the DZNE
DZNE clinical research has the ultimate goal to develop effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. This includes translation of novel drug targets from basic research into clinical investigations, trials on relevant, yet unmet needs in patients with manifest disease and promotion of trials on innovative non-pharmacological interventions. Related to these topics, the DZNE clinical research will focus on improving early and pre-symptomatic disease detection and course prediction, as the prerequisite for successful development of novel therapies.
Prof. Thomas Klockgether has been appointed as Director of Clinical Research of the DZNE in Bonn. Klockgether is also Director of the Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, thus fostering cooperation between DZNE and the University of Bonn in clinical research.
Clinical research at the DZNE can be divided into two main research fields: Clinical epidemiology and therapeutic research.
Clinical Epidemiology
- Director of Clinical Research Prof. Dr. Thomas Klockgether, source: Medienzentrum der Uniklinik Bonn
Neurodegenerative disorders have presymptomatic stages that may last for years or even decades. At the time of clinical diagnosis, patient brains are already severely and irreversibly damaged. Many innovative therapies may have failed because treatment started too late. One of the major aims of the clinical research at the DZNE is therefore the identification of the earliest imaging and laboratory markers that herald the manifestation of neurodegenerative disorders. We will characterize the presymptomatic stage of neurodegenerative diseases by setting up cohorts to study healthy carriers of known familial mutations and healthy subjects at increased risk for common sporadic neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition, the DZNE aims to better understand prodromal and early manifest stages of neurodegenerative diseases. Clinical assessment, neuropsychology, laboratory biomarkers and neuroimaging will provide insights into mechanisms of compensation that may lead to novel therapeutic approaches.
The identification of biomarkers will also feed back into fundamental research and foster a better understanding of the biochemical pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases.
Therapeutic Research
Therapeutic research will focus on interventional trials that aim to translate experimental findings into clinical investigations. In order to foster a rapid translation of basic research findings into clinical investigations, the DZNE plans to perform mainly early phase clinical trials. Interventions to be tested will include pharmacological and immunological treatment approaches. In addition, cell replacement therapies will be considered in a long term perspective.
The ultimate goal of clinical research at the DZNE is to develop therapies that halt or slow disease progression. However, as such therapies are not within reach, there is urgent need for improved therapies that control symptoms, such as motor, behavioural and psychological symptoms. The DZNE will initiate clinical trials that address these unmet therapeutic needs of primary relevance. Studies will investigate the efficacy of licensed drugs for the treatment of defined symptoms or explore non-pharmacological interventions.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established procedure in the management of advanced Parkinson's Disease (PD). At the DZNE, the potential of DBS will be explored in the symptomatic treatment of neurodegenerative diseases other than PD, specifically AD and ataxias.
Infrastructure
Successful clinical DZNE research requires a number of structural prerequisites including a DZNE research ward to be built in the new DZNE building and a local clinical research platform for enrolling patients to the planned cohort studies and conducting interventional trials in ambulatory patients, which is provided by the KBFZ (Klinisches Behandlungs- und Forschungszentrum). The KBFZ was established in 2008 as a joint clinical institution of the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology of the University Hospital Bonn (UKB).
Director of Clinical Research
Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Klockgether
Research Groups and Associated Groups
Priv. Doz. Dr. med. Nicolai Axmacher
Prof. Dr. med. Henning Boelcker
Prof. Dr. med. Volker A. Coenen
Prof. Dr. med. Gunther Hartmann
Prof. Dr. med. Michael Heneka
Prof. Dr. med. Frank Jessen
Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Maier
Prof. Dr. med. Markus Nöthen
Priv. Doz. Dr. med. Gabor Petzold
Prof. Dr. phil Michael Wagner
Prof. Dr. med. Ullrich Wüllner
Current Studies
- SPORTAX
- DELCODE