Neurogastroenterology is a new and emerging medical/scientific subspecialty that currently has no formal training opportunities in medicine and related disciplines. It includes basic science aspects (neurophysiology, neurobiology, neuropsychology, psychophysiology) and clinical aspects (gastroenterology, neurology, internal medicine, surgery, psychology, psychosomatic medicine) of the neural control of intestinal functions (motility, secretion, absorption, immunity, sensitivity) in health and disease.
Functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are among the most frequent disorders in the general population, are associated with high psychiatric (depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue) and somatic comorbidities (back pain, headache), and account for substantial direct and indirect health care costs occurring throughout Europe.
Functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are thought to be due to disorganized ""gut-brain interaction"" of either afferent or efferent or both pathways in control of intestinal functions. In addition, low-grade inflammation, nutritional challenges of the local immune system, and/or post-infectious neuroplastic changes of the enteric nervous system of the gut are believed to be common pathogenetic mechanisms. Genetic contributions have been established, and psychological modulators of its clinical expression have been shown to be effective; both contribute to the efficacy of therapeutic interventions.
The standards of diagnosis of functional bowel disorders are still a matter of debate, and only a few effective treatment strategies are available.
The NeuroGut network, consisting of experienced academic and industrial partners organized in the European Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ESNM), is therefore aimed at offering young researchers excellent training opportunities in neurogastroenterology and in complementary skills in order to generate a new generation of scientists dedicated to resolving open questions.
Coordinator Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen (Germany)
Other participants:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITÀ DI BOLOGNA
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Mediche E Chirurgiche-DIMEC
- Resp. Scientifico: Prof. Vincenzo Stanghellini
Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique (France)
Technische Universitaet Muenchen (Germany)
Academisch Medisch Centrum Bij De Universiteit Van Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)
The University Of Sheffield (UK)
Goeteborgs Universitet (Sweden)
Fundacio Institut De Recerca De L'Hospital Universitari Vall D'Hebron (Spain)
Queen Mary University Of London (UK)
Given Imaging Ltd (Israel)
Symbio Pharm Gmbh (Germany)
Start date 01/02/2014
End date 31/01/2018
Duration 48 months
Project Reference 607652
Project cost 3.687.558 EURO
Project Funding 3.687.558 EURO
Area FP7- PEOPLE
Subprogramme Area Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN)
Contract type Initial Training Networks (ITN)