FUNDACIO BARCELONABETA BRAIN RESEARCH CENTER

Their core work

Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center is a Barcelona-based research foundation focused exclusively on Alzheimer's disease prevention and early detection. They investigate blood-based biomarkers, amyloid imaging, and neurofeedback techniques to identify and intervene in Alzheimer's before clinical symptoms appear. Their work bridges basic biology (aging blood factors, disease modelling) with clinical neurology, aiming to translate laboratory findings into diagnostic and therapeutic tools for dementia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016-2018), the center explored diverse prevention approaches — amyloid imaging, PET tracer delivery, disease modelling, and neurofeedback techniques. From 2018 onward, they narrowed their focus sharply toward blood-based biological mechanisms of aging and Alzheimer's, studying how blood factors accelerate or slow neurodegeneration. The progression from imaging-based detection toward biology-driven therapeutic targets signals a shift from diagnosis to intervention.

They are moving from diagnostic tools toward identifying therapeutic targets in blood, suggesting future work will focus on intervention rather than detection.

How they like to work

Barcelonaβeta predominantly leads its own projects, coordinating 3 out of 4 H2020 grants including an ERC Starting Grant — a strong indicator of independent scientific vision and PI-driven research. Their one participation as partner was in AMYPAD, a large-scale IMI-type health consortium, showing they can operate in both modes. With 16 unique partners across 9 countries from just 4 projects, they build broad European networks rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators.

They have built a network of 16 partners across 9 European countries through only 4 projects, indicating broad reach and diverse connections in the Alzheimer's research community. Their AMYPAD participation likely connected them to major clinical and imaging centers across Europe.

What sets them apart

Their singular focus on Alzheimer's prevention — not treatment of existing disease — makes them unusually specialized even among neuroscience centers. The ERC Starting Grant (HeBe) validates their PI-level scientific originality in blood-based aging research. For consortium builders, they offer deep Alzheimer's expertise combined with a track record of leading projects, rare for a relatively young research foundation.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HeBe
  ERC Starting Grant (EUR 1.5M) investigating blood factors as Alzheimer's therapeutic targets — signals high scientific originality recognized by Europe's most competitive funding scheme.
• AMYPAD
  Largest funding share (EUR 2M+) as participant in a major European amyloid imaging consortium, demonstrating capacity to contribute to large-scale clinical research.
• NPAD
  Early project exploring real-time fMRI neurofeedback for Alzheimer's prevention — an unconventional non-pharmacological approach showing creative research direction.