Luxembourg renews its commitment to the fight against neurogenerative diseases

NCER-PD passes the reins of ParkinsonNet Luxembourg to RdC-MN

• Transversal Translational Medicine (TTM)

Luxembourg is pulling together its competences on a national scale to provide optimal care for people with neurodegenerative diseases. Following a successful pilot project that ran over the past eight years and integrating the latest scientific advancements from the National Centre of Excellence in Research on Parkinson’s Disease (NCER-PD), the Réseau de compétences maladies neurodégénératives “ParkinsonNet Luxembourg” (RdC-MN) was launched on the 26^th of September 2023 in the presence of Paulette Lenert, Minister for Health, and Claude Meisch, Minister for Higher Education and Research.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s are highly complex. “Because of this complexity, people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases need tailored and personalised care,” explains Professor Rejko Krüger, neurologist and medical coordinator of the RoC-MN at the CHL, professor of translational neurosciences at the University of Luxembourg and director of transversal translational medicine at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, one of the initiators of “ParkinsonNet Luxembourg”.

ParkinsonNet is characterised by close collaboration between the healthcare professionals involved and by increased communication with those involved in scientific research. The neurologists, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists who form part of the care team systematically exchange information to improve the follow-up of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. In the near future, the network, which will include other healthcare professions, will be able to draw up an individual treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs and personal environment.

Neuroscientific research is making steady progress and Luxembourg is now established internationally as a major player in the field. We are working on an equal footing with leading research institutions, especially through the National Centre of Excellence in Research for Parkinson’s disease (NCER-PD). Its success impressively underlines what a research programme of this kind – with a well-defined mission and designed for excellence – can do to complement conventional research. With the new reseau de compétences, the knowledge gained by researchers will now be quickly integrated into patient care in Luxembourg and thus have a direct impact on the daily lives of people with Parkinson’s disease.

The role of science was addressed by Claude Meisch, Minister for Higher Education and Research.

Faced with an ageing population and a sharp rise in the number of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, a joint effort by the healthcare system and scientific research is needed. Following a pilot project that has proved its worth over the last eight years and incorporating scientific advances from the National Centre of Excellence in Research for Parkinson’s disease (NCER-PD), the Neurodegenerative Diseases Competence Network (RdC-MN) “ParkinsonNet Luxembourg” was launched in September 2023. Given its success, the ParkinsonNet concept will gradually be extended to other neurodegenerative diseases.