{"id":302,"date":"2015-04-08T13:11:41","date_gmt":"2015-04-08T13:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alamaya.net?page_id=302"},"modified":"2020-09-11T10:18:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T10:18:24","slug":"unit-for-research-in-schizophrenia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/research\/unit-for-research-in-schizophrenia\/","title":{"rendered":"Unit for Research in Schizophrenia"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='full_slider_1'  class='avia-fullwidth-slider main_color avia-shadow   avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first   container_wrap fullsize'  ><div  class='avia-slideshow av-s1wpq-411cef83b99038406347285d6c2af437 avia-slideshow-featured av_slideshow_full avia-slide-slider av-slideshow-ui av-control-default av-slideshow-manual av-loop-once av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied   avia-slideshow-1' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:false,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;once&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:5,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 31.620553359684%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-s1wpq-411cef83b99038406347285d6c2af437__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-1' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"wp-image-407 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-407\"  src='https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/84.jpg' width='759' height='240' title='84' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div id='after_full_slider_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-302'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-e3df58326e17a6a723de8eaa358487b1\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-e3df58326e17a6a723de8eaa358487b1{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-e3df58326e17a6a723de8eaa358487b1 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-e3df58326e17a6a723de8eaa358487b1 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-e3df58326e17a6a723de8eaa358487b1 av-special-heading-h2  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_slideshow_full  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Unit for Research in Schizophrenia<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-jldjmf7s-9dc0eea802f8ce5e5984b2a6a884e9dd '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Multidisciplinary Research<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"415\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1-1030x660.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1-1500x961.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1-705x452.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Kim-Do-Conus-ok1-450x288.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chuv.ch\/en\/psychiatrie\/dp-home\/recherche\/research-centres-and-units-of-the-department-of-psychiatry\/center-for-psychiatric-neurosciences\/unit-for-research-in-schizophrenia-urs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Unit for Research in Schizophrenia (URS)<\/a> was established in 1999 at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chuv.ch\/en\/psychiatrie\/dp-home\/recherche\/research-centres-and-units-of-the-department-of-psychiatry\/center-for-psychiatric-neurosciences\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience (CNP)<\/a> (Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital), with the support of the Faculty of Medicine and other local health authorities. It is directed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/foundation\/board-of-trustees\/cv-prof-kim-do-cuenod\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prof. Kim Do Cu\u00e9nod<\/a> (left on the photo); <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/foundation\/board-of-trustees\/cv-dr-michel-cuenod\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prof. Michel Cu\u00e9nod<\/a> (medical doctor and neurobiologist, former Head of the Brain Research Institute of the University of Zurich and Chair of the Alamaya Foundation) collaborates with the URS as scientific\u00a0adviser and on a voluntary basis.<\/p>\n<p>Its\u00a0location on the site of the psychiatric hospital of\u00a0Cery allows <strong>close collaboration with clinicians <\/strong>of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chuv.ch\/psychiatrie\/fiches-psychiatrie_details.htm?fiche_id=303\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Service of General Psychiatry<\/a>, headed by Prof. Philippe Conus (right on the photo). Given the complex issues at stake, the URS team consists of specialists in neuroscience (neurobiology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, physiology, etc.) and professionals in direct contact with patients (psychiatrists, psychologists, radiologists specialized in brain imaging, etc.). This collaboration is\u00a0crucial to achieve\u00a0significant progress, and\u00a0facilitates the important <strong>participation of patients<\/strong>\u00a0in the\u00a0research process.<\/p>\n<h2>Translational Program<\/h2>\n<p>The activities of the URS are focused on identifying\u00a0<strong>neurobiological factors of vulnerability<\/strong>, which are likely to further the risk\u00a0of being affected by schizophrenia. Its main objective\u00a0is directed at a better understanding of <strong>the causes and mechanisms leading to schizophrenia <\/strong>in order to be able to make an <strong>early diagnosis <\/strong>of the disease, develop <strong>new treatments<\/strong> and ultimately <strong>preventive measures<\/strong>. The same objective applies to the fields of <strong>autism <\/strong>and<strong> bipolar disorders<\/strong>, which are being included in the URS research programme\u00a0since it was discovered that the three diseases have certain mechanisms in common.<\/p>\n<p>This objective is founded on a <strong>hypothesis<\/strong> <strong>formulated in 1993<\/strong> by Prof. Kim Do Cu\u00e9nod<a href=\"\/?p=282\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0<\/a> and Prof. Michel Cu\u00e9nod , according to which patients suffering\u00a0from schizophrenia\u00a0show a\u00a0<strong>significant factor of vulnerability<\/strong>: a genetic\u00a0abnormality causing the <strong>deficiency of a substance called <em>glutathione<\/em><\/strong>, an antioxidant essential to the elimination of toxic\u00a0elements in the human body. Insufficient glutathione is likely to hinder the contacts between nerve cells and cause the dysfunction of certain neurons. This hypothesis has\u00a0since been confirmed; it\u00a0is presently\u00a0widely acknowledged by the international scientific community.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Translation_E.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1925 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Translation_E.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"721\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Translation_E.png 640w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Translation_E-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Translation_E-450x253.png 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\" \/><\/a>The\u00a0URS\u00a0has developed a\u00a0<strong>translational program<\/strong>,\u00a0which implies a constant interaction between clinical research (patients) and basic research (cell cultures, mice). This approach, which is common in somatic medicine (i.e. heart, lungs, kidneys, etc.), is relatively new in psychiatry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Clinical research<\/strong>, in patients, is aimed at understanding the <strong>causes and mechanisms of the disease<\/strong>, and includes following investigations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Psychopathology (psychological disorders)<\/li>\n<li>Neuropsychology (cognitive disorders)<\/li>\n<li>Genetic and biochemical analysis (of blood and\u00a0fibroblasts)<\/li>\n<li>EEG analysis (electroencephalogram)<\/li>\n<li>Measuring of glutathione and other intracerebral molecules by\u00a0magnetic resonance spectroscopy\u00a0(MRS)<\/li>\n<li>Measuring of cerebral connectivity (DSI)<\/li>\n<li>Therapeutic trials\u00a0with substances likely to increase the glutathione level<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Basic research<\/strong> focuses on the <strong>consequences of\u00a0a reduced glutathione level<\/strong>; the artificial lowering of glutathione synthesis in cultures of neurons, brain slices and\/or animals allows to generate &#8220;models&#8221;\u00a0that are intended to\u00a0evaluate whether a reduced glutathione level, in particular during the development of the brain, causes anomalies similiar to those observed in patients. These models are also essential to test the effectiveness of new drugs. Basic research involves following observations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Morphology: changes\u00a0in the\u00a0anatomy and biochemical characteristics of neurons<\/li>\n<li>Biochemistry: modifications of brain metabolites<\/li>\n<li>Physiology: changes in certain functions of neurons<\/li>\n<li>Behaviour: changes in cognitive and affective functions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These different fields of research require the collaboration of various specialists, thus\u00a0justifying a<strong>multidisciplinary\u00a0working group<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Team<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1995 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"543\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181.jpg 5101w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181-1030x736.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181-1500x1072.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181-260x185.jpg 260w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181-705x504.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/50076_Lec\u2560\u00baon_Inaugurale_KimDo_180215_181-450x321.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nThe team of the URS includes several young and brilliant doctoral and post-doctoral students with a promising scientific career, two laboratory technicians and two psychologists. Funds raised by the Alamaya Foundation largely contribute to finance their salaries, and thus not only help to <strong>advance a pioneering research program<\/strong> but also to <strong>further a high level academic community<\/strong>. Several clinician scientists of the Department of Psychiatry also participate in the studies of the URS.<\/p>\n<p>The URS develops its activities in the context\u00a0of an extensive network of collaboration, which includes various <strong>university institutes<\/strong> and other\u00a0<strong>research centres<\/strong> in Switzerland and abroad (see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/research\/collaboration\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Collaboration<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='hr av-b5o3y-c31d92880aa35093b4cc9f9b072b2456 hr-default  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":299,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/302\/"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page\/"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5\/"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments\/?post=302"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/302\/revisions\/"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2454,"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/302\/revisions\/2454\/"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/299\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alamaya.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/?parent=302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}