About the project

Contract number: LSHM-CT-2004-504837
Project acronym: EUROHEAD
Project name: Migraine genes and neurobiological pathways
Priority /Priority Component (e.g., Strategic Objective, etc.): "LIFE SCIENCES, GENOMICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR HEALTH"
Total cost (€): 3,200,000.
Commission funding (€): 3,200,000,-

Project Logo:
Heurohead Logo

List of participants (organisation name, country):

  1. Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC; Prof. M.D. Ferrari)
  2. University of Helsinki (UH.HGC; Prof. A. Palotie)
  3. Institute of Neurology, University College London (ION; Prof. P. Goadsby)
  4. Universiy of Padua (UNPD I; Prof. D. Pietrobon)
  5. Istituto Scientifico Universitario San Raffaele (HSR-Milan; Dr. G. Casari)
  6. University Duisburg Essen (Uni Essen; Prof. H.-C. Diener)
  7. Glostrup University Hospital (KASGlostrup; Prof. J. Olesen)
  8. University of Liège (ULg; Prof. J.Schoenen)
  9. IRCCS Mondino Institute of Neurology (FMPV; Prof. G. Nappi)

Main objectives of the project

EUROHEAD aims to unravel the genetic and neurobiological basis of migraine: the initiation of attacks, the aura, and the pain. The project has the following objectives:

  1. To establish a EUROHEAD Centre of Excellence, bringing together the clinical, genetic and neurobiological expertise of leading European migraine research groups;
  2. To create a EUROHEAD Migraine Patient Resource, pooling (for genetic and clinical research purposes) data on well-characterised families, population-based cohorts, families of genetic isolates and twins;
  3. To identify new loci and gene variants in rare familial hemiplegic migraine and common migraine with and without aura;
  4. To test and validate the importance of migraine susceptibility loci and genes in the clinical and population cohorts of the EUROHEAD Migraine Patient Resource;
  5. To analyse the functional consequences of migraine-associated gene variants and mutations in cellular and animal models. Techniques include cortical spreading depression, electrophysiology, brainstem nociception, Ca2+-, and neuroimaging;
  6. To correlate genotypes with migraine-endophenotypes for future clinical classification systems based on genetic information;
  7. To promote and disseminate knowledge on headache science in Europe to various stakeholders; to this end, the consortium is running a website with detailed, up-to-date information on clinical and genetic aspects, animal models, and neurophysiology.

Key issues

Migraine is a common chronic pain syndrome for which effective and well-tolerated prophylactic antimigraine agents are sorely needed. Increased knowledge of migraine pathophysiology is a prerequisite for the development of such agents. EUROHEAD is investigating the genetic and neurobiological basis of migraine. A second important aim of the EUROHEAD consortium is to promote and disseminate knowledge on clinical and neurobiological aspects of migraine syndromes and to heighten awareness of migraine as a serious, neurobiological disorder.

Technical approach:

EUROHEAD research is multidisciplinary. Using modern molecular genetic techniques, novel migraine loci and gene variants will be identified and validated in patients and transgenic mouse models. Neurobiological techniques, such as electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and neurophysiology, will yield valuable information about the functional consequences of mutated migraine genes and their relation to migraine pathophysiology. EUROHEAD research involves both patients and transgenic animal models.

Expected achievements/impact

The EUROHEAD project brings together renowned European institutes and is expected to lead to progress in the genetics and neurobiology of migraine. EUROHEAD aims to identify migraine susceptibility loci and migraine genes and to evaluate the importance of these genetic factors in the general population. The functional consequences of the two presently known migraine genes, both involved in ion transport, are being studied in detail. The project is also expected to increase knowledge on how attacks begin and to identify the mechanisms involved in pain modulation. EUROHEAD will further our understanding both of the mechanisms and genetic risk factors for (analgesic-induced) chronicisation of migraine pain, and of how migraine triggers act. Cellular and animal models will be generated to test potential new antimigraine agents. Importantly, our dissemination activities will ensure a better understanding of migraine and other primary headaches among stakeholders in Europe.

Coordinator contact details

Principal Investigator/Project Director: Prof. Michel D. Ferrari, MD, PhD
E-mail: M.D.Ferrari@lumc.nl
Fax: +31-71-5248253
Tel: +31-71-5262895

Overall Structure of Eurohead

This page last modified: 07/04/2006