We are CIEN, the Centre for Research in Neurological Diseases, a public non-profit institution attached to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the Carlos III Health Institute. Our mission is to support, promote and coordinate research into Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, driving the advancement of knowledge and its application for the benefit of society.
Since 2007, CIEN has been based at the Reina Sofia Alzheimer's Centre (CAFRS), thanks to an agreement whereby the Reina Sofia Foundation ceded part of its facilities (a residential centre and a day centre for people with Alzheimer's) to house a leading research centre. This strategic collaboration allows for a unique interaction between research, care and society.
A key element that makes CIEN exceptionally unique is the CIEN Tissue Bank (BT-CIEN), a valuable scientific resource that collects, characterises and makes available to the research community human nervous tissue of the highest quality. BT-CIEN is fundamental to understanding the biological basis of neurodegenerative diseases and places our centre in a unique position within the national and international scientific landscape.
Thanks to this unique structure (the integration of care, clinical research, advanced technology platforms and a reference brain bank), CIEN is able to conduct pioneering, long-term studies such as VARS, a unique initiative that allows longitudinal follow-up of elderly residents at the CAFRS. These types of projects, which are difficult to replicate in other settings, are essential for understanding the evolution of neurodegenerative diseases in real-world conditions and obtaining data of enormous scientific value.
In addition to the Neuropathology/BT-CIEN Platform, our scientific activity is organised around other additional platforms, such as: clinical evaluation, neuroimaging, biomarker and molecular genetics laboratory, and neurophysiology and neuromodulation. Together, they form a multidisciplinary ecosystem that supports our lines of research, aimed at improving diagnosis, understanding disease progression and developing new therapeutic strategies.
At CIEN, we are firmly committed to finding innovative and effective solutions to combat diseases that affect millions of people around the world. Our work not only drives scientific progress, but also has a direct impact on the quality of life of those affected and their families.
We continue to move forward, together, to understand and combat neurodegenerative diseases.
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Constitution of the CIEN
On December 3, 2002, the Governing Council of the Carlos III Institute of Health authorised the Institute to carry out all the necessary and pertinent procedures for the constitution of the CIEN.
2002Constitution of the Scientific Committee
On 27 January 2003, the Scientific Committee was constituted. The members of the Executive Committee were appointed. Two elective members were elected to the Board of Trustees. And the coordinator of the Network, ‘D. Isidro Ferrer Abizanda’, was elected.
2003Signing of the Agreement
The Reina Sofia Foundation and the CIEN, dependent on the Carlos III Institute of Health, sign an agreement for the creation of the Alzheimer Project Research Unit.
2006Inauguration of the Centre
The Reina Sofia Foundation Alzheimer Centre was inaugurated on 8 March 2007. A few months later, CIEN begins its activities.
2007