TS-EUROTRAIN: A European-Wide Investigation and Training Network on the Etiology and Pathophysiology of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome.
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) is characterized by the presence of multiple motor and phonic tics with a fluctuating course of intensity, frequency, and severity. Up to 90% of patients with GTS present with comorbid conditions, most commonly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), thus providing an excellent model for the exploration of shared etiology across disorders. TS-EUROTRAIN (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN, Grant Agr.No. 316978) is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network (http://ts-eurotrain.eu) that aims to elucidate the complex etiology of the onset and clinical course of GTS, investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of GTS and related disorders, translate research findings into clinical applications, and establish a pan-European infrastructure for the study of GTS. This includes the challenges of (i) assembling a large genetic database for the evaluation of the genetic architecture with high statistical power; (ii) exploring the role of gene-environment interactions including the effects of epigenetic phenomena; (iii) employing endophenotype-based approaches to understand the shared etiology between GTS, OCD, and ADHD; (iv) establishing a developmental animal model for GTS; (v) gaining new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of GTS via cross-sectional and longitudinal neuroimaging studies; and (vi) partaking in outreach activities including the dissemination of scientific knowledge about GTS to the public. Fifteen partners from academia and industry and 12 PhD candidates pursue the project. Here, we aim to share the design of an interdisciplinary project, showcasing the potential of large-scale collaborative efforts in the field of GTS. Our ultimate aims are to elucidate the complex etiology and neurobiological underpinnings of GTS, translate research findings into clinical applications, and establish Pan-European infrastructure for the study of GTS and associated disorders.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenGroningen, Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegen, Netherlands.
Natalie J
NJ
Forde
Clinic of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical SchoolHannover, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany.
Ahmad S
AS
Kanaan
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Joanna
J
Widomska
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace Alexandropoulos, Greece.
Shanmukha S
SS
Padmanabhuni
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, CNS ResearchBiberach an der Riss, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of UlmUlm, Germany.
Ester
E
Nespoli
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace Alexandropoulos, Greece.
John
J
Alexander
Department of Clinical Genetics, Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Juan I
JI
Rodriguez Arranz
Department of Clinical and health Psychology, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdam, Netherlands.
Siyan
S
Fan
Department of Clinical Genetics, Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Rayan
R
Houssari
deCODE Genetics/AmgenReykjavik, Iceland; Faculty of Medicine, University of IcelandReykjavik, Iceland.
Muhammad S
MS
Nawaz
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of UlmUlm, Germany; Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany.
Francesca
F
Rizzo
Institute of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis UniversityBudapest, Hungary; Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of SciencesBudapest, Hungary.
Luca
L
Pagliaroli
Department of Clinical and health Psychology, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands; Department of Biological Psychology, VU UniversityAmsterdam, Netherlands.
Nuno R
NR
Zilhäo
Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of SciencesBudapest, Hungary; Université d'Angers, BNMI (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale 1083 / Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 6214)Angers, France.
Tamas
T
Aranyi
Institute of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University Budapest, Hungary.
Csaba
C
Barta
Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Tobias M
TM
Boeckers
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany; EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical CentreAmsterdam, Netherlands.
Dorret I
DI
Boomsma
Stichting Gilles de la Tourette Rhoon, Netherlands.
Wim R
WR
Buisman
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegen, Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University CentreNijmegen, Netherlands.
Jan K
JK
Buitelaar
Department of Clinical and health Psychology, Utrecht University Utrecht, Netherlands.
Danielle
D
Cath
Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen Groningen, Netherlands.
Andrea
A
Dietrich
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Nicole
N
Driessen
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, USA.
Petros
P
Drineas
Tourette-Gesellschaft Deutschland e.V. Hannover, Germany.
Michelle
M
Dunlap
Clinic of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany.
Sarah
S
Gerasch
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Jeffrey
J
Glennon
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, CNS Research Biberach an der Riss, Germany.
Bastian
B
Hengerer
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdam, Netherlands.
Odile A
OA
van den Heuvel
Department of Clinical Genetics, Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Cathrine
C
Jespersgaard
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany.
Harald E
HE
Möller
Clinic of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany.
Kirsten R
KR
Müller-Vahl
Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen Groningen, Netherlands.
Thaïra J C
TJ
Openneer
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegen, Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegen, Netherlands; Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud UniversityNijmegen, Netherlands.
Geert
G
Poelmans
Department of Physics and Medical Technology, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Petra J W
PJ
Pouwels
Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Center for Human Genetic Research, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA, USA.
Jeremiah M
JM
Scharf
deCODE Genetics/Amgen Reykjavik, Iceland.
Hreinn
H
Stefansson
Department of Clinical Genetics, Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Zeynep
Z
Tümer
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Dick J
DJ
Veltman
Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdam, Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for NeuroscienceAmsterdam, Netherlands.
Ysbrand D
YD
van der Werf
Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen Groningen, Netherlands.
Pieter J
PJ
Hoekstra
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Ulm Ulm, Germany.
Andrea
A
Ludolph
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace Alexandropoulos, Greece.
Peristera
P
Paschou
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome; Initial Training Network; animal models; etiology; genetics; neuroimaging; tourette disorder