Synapsing Project Launches: Advancing Diagnosis & Treatment of Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases

The Synapsing project officially launched with a two-day kick-off meeting from Monday, 27th to Tuesday, 28th January 2025, at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona. This ambitious initiative brings together leading researchers and institutions to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders (MDs) and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) by addressing common mechanisms underlying these conditions.

Bringing the Consortium Together

The Synapsing project, coordinated by the Research Institute of the Hospital De La Santa Creu i Sant Pau, brought together all 13 consortium partners for the kick-off meeting to discuss the project’s objectives, key deliverables, and milestones for the first 18 months. The event was structured into scientific and technical sessions, allowing partners to share their insights and define the next steps.

During the scientific sessions, each partner presented the background and state-of-the-art knowledge relevant to their work package. These presentations provided valuable insights into the scientific rationale of the project, ensuring that all partners had a clear understanding of the objectives and methodologies involved.

During the technical sessions, partners engaged in in-depth discussions on the implementation and reporting of project milestones and deliverables. This was followed by moderated roundtable discussions that fostered open collaboration, allowing partners to strategise the most effective approaches to achieving key targets within each work package.

Bridging the Gap in Diagnosis & Treatment

Mental disorders (MDs), such as depression and schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), including Alzheimer’s disease, are linked by disrupted brain connections. This leads to shared emotional, behavioural, and cognitive symptoms. However, current treatments—antidepressants and antipsychotics—often fail to work for ND patients, and many individuals with MDs develop resistance to treatment.

The Synapsing project is addressing these gaps by compiling clinical, neuroimaging, and socioeconomic data from over 3,000 patients across Europe. By developing blood-based biomarkers, analysing post-mortem brain tissue and stem cell models, and assessing socioeconomic influences, the project aims to:

• Enable faster and more accurate diagnosis.
• Distinguish between MDs and NDs.
• Predict treatment response.
• Provide policy recommendations to reduce mental health disparities.

The outcomes of Synapsing will enhance clinical guidelines, diagnostic precision, and healthcare access, fostering a stronger network of knowledge and care across Europe.

Privanova’s Role: Championing Ethical Excellence

Privanova will ensure that the Synapsing project upholds the highest ethical and regulatory standards. Our role includes:

• Interpreting and implementing ethical requirements from the European Commission.
• Delivering a policy report with recommendations to reduce social disparities in mental health.
• Establishing an Ethics Advisory Board, featuring both internal and external experts, to guide the consortium on ethical and social issues.
• Leading compliance efforts to align with data protection regulations and responsible research and innovation.
• Organising the SynergyHealth cluster workshop, fostering collaboration between MD and ND researchers and clinicians.

Looking Ahead

The Synapsing project marks a pivotal moment in the quest to improve the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. By combining cutting-edge research, technological advancements, and ethical oversight, this initiative is set to drive real change in mental health care across Europe.