IN-SENS · Deciphering inter- and intracellular signalling in schizophrenia

IN-SENS is an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge European industry-academia collaborative effort for a novel training of scientists in molecular psychiatry with the prospect of discovering the biology of schizophrenia and actively promote drug discovery. Mental illnesses are a major burden to patients, relatives, and public health worldwide. IN-SENS therefore aims to profoundly change the academic-industry research landscape in European psychiatry by an unprecedented, innovative strategy.The extended intra- and intercellular signalling pathway of disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), the best characterized gene known to cause schizophrenia and other chronic mental illnesses (CMI), will be used as a molecular Rosetta stone for this purpose. Expected results of IN-SENS include profound training, including clinical psychiatry, industrial, and translational medicine exposure, of a new generation of European ESRs capable of understanding the molecular underpinnings of CMI in academia, industry and other non-academic sectors. ESRs will explore how molecules related to the extended DISC1 pathway translate to the different biochemical, genetic, and neurodevelopmental hypotheses and data proposed so far as being important players in the molecular pathology of CMI. Further, they will play an active role in the generation of new analytical tools and therapeutic agents for the diagnosis and treatment of CMI in close collaboration with the industrial sector.IN-SENS will have immediate and longterm benefits for the European academic-industry research landscape in psychiatry by fostering scientific creativity and entrepreneurial skills of ESRs, generating novel research networks in Europe, enhancing mutual recognition and introducing novel models and of public-private cooperations. At the end of IN-SENS, exceptionally trained ESRs will be ready to extend these studies in academia and/or the private sector, and be able to move confidently to a fruitful professional career.