Published: 12-06-2020 14:04 | Updated: 16-06-2020 14:38

KI Researchers receive two-year research grant from The Swedish Brain Foundation for project on cluster headache

headache
headache Photo: Pixabay,Mohamed Hassan

Congratulations to Andrea Carmine Belin and Caroline Ran, researchers at the Department of Neuroscience, who have received The Swedish Brain Foundation's Research Grant in 2020, for their project on cluster headache, a neurovascular disease leading to extreme pain and for which there is currently no cure.

Portrait of Andrea Carmine Belin sitting at desk
Andrea Carmine Belin. Foto: Katrin Wellfelt

Tell us about the research grant you have received?

"We have been awarded The Swedish Brain Foundation Research Grant 2020 for our project 'Genetic screening of Horton's headaches in relation to treatment and circadian rhythms'", says Andrea Carmine Belin, who runs the research project together with Caroline Ran.

Each year, the Swedish Brain Foundation supports qualified research on the brain and other nervous systems, as well as diseases, injuries and disabilities throughout the nervous system. This research grant is awarded for two years and totals SEK 1,200,000.

Portrait of Caroline Ran in lab environment
Caroline Ran. Foto: Katrin Wellfelt

... and about your project?

"Cluster headache is a neurovascular disease leading to extreme pain and, to this day, with no available cure. The disease mechanisms are unknown, but heredity and circadian rhythm have been suggested to be involved", explains Caroline Ran.

"Using a unique biobank, we will primarily be able to identify genetic markers linked to cluster headache, as well as characterize biological effect of these genetic markers and circadian rhythms in relation to disease," she continues.

"We will also study why drug response to available treatment is different within this patient group," she says.

Andrea Carmine Belin's research group at the Department of Neuroscience is running the project in collaboration with neurologists at Karolinska University Hospital.

Whom might benefit from the research and how?

"Patients with primary headaches with a focus on cluster headache", says Andrea Carmine Belin.

"This will allow insight into the underlying disease mechanisms, which, in turn, can lead to the identification of new suitable drug targets and the development of novel and more efficient treatment strategies based on individual genotypes", she concludes.

Contact

Andrea Carmine Belin Principal Researcher