Learn how EPND is advancing biomarker science, by enabling data and biosample sharing, and supporting collaborative research! We recently hosted a public webinar, highlighting the ATN biomarker dataset – which is now requestable through the EPND Hub – as well as two of the cohorts which contributed data and biosamples to the study. The recording is now available to watch online.

Watch the full webinar on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1123890119

The ATN Biomarker case study and dataset: new insights into shared pathologies across Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies

Pieter Jelle Visser, Professor in Molecular Epidemiology of Alzheimer's Disease, Maastricht University

Pieter Jelle Visser, who co-leads EPND, kicked off his presentation by introducing the EPND project, underscoring the importance of access to high-quality datasets and biosample collections in advancing biomarker science. This was followed by a deep dive into the goals, design, and results from EPND’s ATN biomarker case study. The ATN biomarker case study brought together biosamples and datasets from 350 participants, drawn from ten different cohorts across seven European countries. The ATN biomarker dataset offers valuable insights into shared pathologies across Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies – and is now accessible via the EPND Hub.

Watch Pieter Jelle’s presentation to learn more: https://vimeo.com/1123890119#chapter=18421614

The National Centre for Excellence in Research on Parkinson’s Disease (NCER-PD) study

Rejko Krüger, Professor for Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Luxembourg

Rejko Kruger, co-Lead of EPND’s cohort interaction workstream, presented findings from Luxembourg’s NCER-PD cohort, a landmark study on Parkinson’s disease which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in October 2025. NCER-PD, which was one of the contributing cohorts to the ATN biomarker case study, is helping to pave the way for precision medicine in Parkinson’s disease. Rejko highlighted some of the scientific impacts from NCER-PD, which include the launch of a Genetics Hub for Luxembourg, the development of novel biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease, and tools to predict how patients may respond to new therapeutics.

Watch Rejko’s presentation to learn more: https://vimeo.com/1123890119#chapter=18421617

The Gut Microbiota in Alzheimer's Disease & Brain connectivity and metacognition in persons with subjective cognitive decline (gMAD-COSCODE) study

Sophie Mutel , Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Geneva

Sophie Mutel, one of the lead researchers in EPND’s Case Study workstream, introduced the gMAD-COSCODE study. This innovative study, co-led by Professor Giovanni Frisoni at the University of Geneva, has recruited over 1,000 participants across the Alzheimer's disease continuum, generating data and biosamples to better understand how Alzheimer's disease progresses in different ways in different people - and how the gut microbiota influences cognitive decline. As well as detailing the cohort’s contribution to the ATN biomarker case study, Sophie outlined EPND’s third case study, which is investigating the microbiome as a disease fingerprint in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Watch Sophie’s presentation to learn more: https://vimeo.com/1123890119#chapter=18421629

Opportunities for scientific collaboration through the EPND platform

Stephanie Vos, EPND Disease Area Specialist

Stephanie Vos is one of EPND’s Disease Area Specialists, playing a pivotal in our cohort interactions workstream by connecting research cohorts to the platform. In her presentation, Stephanie explained how the EPND Hub can facilitate collaborative research, connecting researchers with cohorts, biosample collections and datasets. The EPND Hub is a unified, web-based portal that currently lists over 100 cohorts, 118 datasets, and 30+ biosample collections, with advanced functionalities allowing researchers to discover, access and share these valuable resources. In closing, Stephanie demonstrated how to navigate the Hub, showing how study investigators can use Hub tools to manage their cohort listings, follow data access requests, and perform analyses in secure, online workspaces.

Watch Stephanie’s presentation to learn more: https://vimeo.com/1123890119#chapter=18421632

Get started today!

Visit the EPND Hub to begin exploring 100+ studies, view available datasets and biosamples, and submit access requests: discover.epnd.org

Interested in contributing your own resources? Learn how to list your studies, datasets or biosamples and become part of this collaborative research community.