Despite the abundance of Tourette Syndrome (TS) research that is performed in the Netherlands, collaboration among different research centers has been limited. The present research grant will be used to support an initiative to establish a joint Dutch bio-banking project on TS. In conjunction with the Dutch Tourette Syndrome Association, clinical and biological information will be collected from 200 TS patients and their family members (mostly parents), in order to identify endophenotypes that allow for the investigation of homogeneous subgroups of TS patients. Information will be added to an already collected database of 200 samples. We intend to follow up on these patients and family members over the years. Hopefully we will be successful in identifying genetic factors that contribute to the expression of the disease, which—in combination/ interaction with the unravelling of other biochemical, immunological and psychological factors that interact with expression of the disease—will improve our understanding of TS. Moreover, data from this bio-banking project will be added to the TSA International Genetic Consortium, thereby enabling both parties to benefit from the data collection. Danielle C. Cath, M.D., Ph.D., VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Pieter J. Hoekstra, M.D., Ph.D. Groningen University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Award: $74,406 Tourette Association of America Inc. – Research Grant Award 2005-2006
The Dutch Tourette Genomics Collaboration: a Bio-banking project
Grant Type
Clinical
Grant Year
2005-2006
Institution Location
Foreign
Institution Organization Name
VU Medical Center The Netherlands
Investigators Name
Cath, Danielle, MD, PhD