In a new Insight published in The Lancet Neurology, we are proud to announce the collective vision for the CURE-ND Alliance: building an integrated, Europe-wide response to accelerate research, drive therapeutic innovation, and deliver tangible improvements for people living with neurodegenerative diseases.
Launched in 2020, CURE-ND (Catalyzing a United Response in Europe to Neurodegenerative Diseases) brings together four leading institutes: the UK DRI, the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the Paris Brain Institute (ICM), and Mission Lucidity (ML). Together, these partners represent a community of over 2,500 researchers and clinicians working towards a world-class, open and integrated research ecosystem.
A collaborative approach
Faced with the complexity and urgency of neurodegenerative diseases, CURE-ND is built on a collaborative approach that brings together the strengths of its four partners. The initiative aims to harmonise cohorts of patients and volunteers, share large-scale multimodal data, and leverage artificial intelligence tools. The goal is to better understand disease determinants, identify reliable biomarkers, and accelerate the development of new therapies.
One of the consortium’s major challenges is to reshape the very definition of these diseases, shifting from a symptom-based approach to a refined molecular characterisation. This evolution is essential to enable the emergence of personalised medicine, based on biomarkers and precise biological profiles, and to improve the design and efficiency of clinical trials.
In this context, CURE-ND is developing innovative and flexible clinical infrastructures capable of supporting multicenter trials at the European scale, as well as drug discovery programs based on advanced experimental platforms, notably induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and multi-omics approaches.
CURE-ND4ALS: a flagship program focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
As a flagship program of this dynamic, CURE-ND4ALS, initiated in 2025, focuses on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It notably aims to structure finely characterized European cohorts, optimize therapeutic development pipelines, and facilitate the implementation of innovative clinical trials. This program, made possible by the highly active philanthropic initiative of Olivier Goy, ambassador of the Institut du Cerveau living with ALS, is intended to serve as a model for other neurodegenerative diseases.
Placing patients at the heart of its approach, CURE-ND works closely with patient associations to ensure the relevance, ethics, and real-world impact of its research. By strengthening high-level collaborations at the European and international levels, while fostering a spirit of solidarity and inclusivity, the consortium aims to significantly accelerate scientific progress and its translation into tangible benefits for those affected.
Reference: Debette S, Chandran S, Petzold G et al. Catalysing a united response in Europe for neurodegenerative diseases: CURE-ND, The Lancet Neurology, 25, 448-449
