One of the aims of the ROGER DE SPOELBERCH Foundation is to encourage and finance research in the field of neuro-degenerative diseases in general as well as psychiatric diseases, in particular those badly altering human behaviors such as schizophrenia.
Any project aiming at offering a better treatment of such pathologies or to improve the living environment of those suffering from them or their close relations can be submitted by email to info@frds.ch.
High level scientists who believe that this Foundation might fund their research to some extents are invited to submit a comprehensive mail to info@frds.ch by following the procedure shown under the ROGER DE SPOELBERCH Prize regulation tab of its web site.
The list of the laureates of this Foundation’ Prize and the works for which they were awarded are available under de Prize tab of its site.
The projects supported and partially or fully funded by this Foundation are numerous and of various nature. Since its inception, this Foundation has answered positively to well over one hundred requests for a financial assistance.
These projects are classified as follows:
- Infrastructure
- Equipment purchase
- Research, information and broadcasting of knowledge
- Education, conferences and support to patients and their close relations.
The first category encompasses infrastructure projects such as the construction of buildings to bring together or centralise psychiatric, neurodevelopment and consultation services, respite rooms for families, workshops for deeply disabled patients, living areas for autistic patients etc.
In the second category one finds the assistance for the acquisition by universities and or public or private hospitals and clinics of research equipment. Such equipment can be magnetic resonance devices, electronic microscopes, surgical robots, eye driven computers, special armchairs or wheelchairs, etc.
Finally, some research projects are financially supported by this Foundation. As a matter of an example a multidimensional and multidisciplinary research program on the plasticity of prematurely born babies, a pre-production medical equipment the purpose of which is to provide an ultra-early diagnosis of schizophrenia, a better detection and understanding of the co-ordination acquisition disorder in children, an early test for detecting the autism spectrum, a program of identification and intervention of disorders caused by bipolarity, a digital plan of pain detection in people suffering from dementia unable to communicate, a translational research in deep brain simulation.
The last category includes training and educational projects in a variety of fields such as mental health, cognitive re-education, the organization by many associations of respite week-ends or longer stays for families or accompanying persons in families with children, sick adult patients or the organisation of artistic performances in hospitals.