Budget doubles for research into rare diseases
The Flemish innovation minister has announced an annual budget of €13.8 million for research and treatment of rare diseases
Improving public health
The €13.8 million funding will be available for a programme known as applied biomedical research with primary social finality. By funding clinical research into new treatment methods or preventive measures for rare diseases, the programme contributes to improving public health in Flanders.
The Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO) has already selected 18 projects from consortia of research centres, which will receive funding via the programme. “They are medical research projects in which industry is not interested because of the small number of patients with the disease,” said Muyters. “Without government funding, these therapies would not reach patients.”
One supported project, from Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) researcher Diane De Neubourg, will examine how the detection of DNA damage in sperm influences a patient’s chance of conception. Another project – a collaboration between Ghent University, the university hospital of Ghent and UZA – will focus on the immunological diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever, a hereditary inflammatory disorder.
The projects receive between €250,000 and €1 million for periods of two to four years.
Photo: Ingimage
