France based DISruptive Thinking for ALZheimer’s disease (DISTALZ), a research laboratory specialising in Alzheimer’s disease, based in the Lille region, was recently certified as a Laboratory of Excellence by the French government. The laboratory is now part of the strategic EU joint programme-Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), which illustrates the fact that the R&D excellence of Lille and its region has been recognised at both national and pan-European level.

As one of six projects in Northern France Lille Region to be certified as 'laboratories of excellence,' by the French Government, DISTALZ  is focused on developing innovative strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Driven by the Research and Higher Education Centre of Lille Nord de France University, the objective of the DISTALZ Laboratory of Excellence is to explore the biological processes involved in Alzheimer’s disease and to develop new biomarkers for the illness as well as new therapeutic targets.

DISTALZ aims to conduct detailed experimental and characterisation studies to facilitate investigation of genetic influences on Alzheimer’s disease. The laboratory will also develop other important genetic and biological tests, to find out if any interactions can occur with other neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. This will help in a detailed analysis of patients’ condition and shift them immediately from pathological to clinical stage for further treatment. The patients will thus benefit from a personalised medicine approach of treatment, made available to them in the early stages of the disease.

DISTALZ is part of the Alzheimer’s plan of the European research strategy on neurodegenerative diseases, which is structured as a joint programming initiative involving 23 countries and intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness of funding in this area. Labelled a Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s disease, equivalent to other such centres worldwide, this laboratory shall reinforce France’s position as an expert in the field of life sciences research.

Armed with a 12 million Euro budget, the team is focused on one of the strategic priority areas of the 'nutrition health and longevity competitive cluster'. Certified by the French Government in 2005, the nutrition health and longevity competitive cluster brings together leading health and nutrition industry players to address public health issues such as disease prevention through diet and nutrition, treatment of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders and age related diseases and illness.