Affiliations: [a] Gerontopole, Toulouse University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Purpan University Hospital, Toulouse, France | [b] Inserm, U1027, Toulouse, France | [c] University of Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Sophie Gillette-Guyonnet, Gérontopôle de Toulouse, Service de Médecine Interne et Gérontologie Clinique, CHU Purpan-Cas, Toulouse, France. Fax: +(33) 5 61 77 25 93; E-mail: gillette.s@chu-toulouse.fr.
Abstract: The formation of the first Gerontopole in Toulouse was a response to a mission letter sent by French Ministers of Health on February 2007. The mission of the Toulouse Gerontopole is based around three major axes: 1) To facilitate the access of frail elderly people to innovative therapy and clinical research: the Gérontopôle set up the national network for clinical investigation into Alzheimer's disease (AD) funded through the CeNGEPS (National Centre For Management of Trials on Health Products) calls for proposals since July 2008. In addition, the Gérontopôle coordinates several national clinical trials with promising drugs with potential effect on the mechanisms and evolution of AD and actively participates in studies on biomarkers; 2) To develop health promotion actions and prevention trials for healthy elderly people, through the Institute of Aging: the Gérontopôle has implemented the GuidAge (Phase III trial concerning the efficiency of Ginkgo Biloba on the impact and delay of appearance of an Alzheimer type dementia) and MAPT (Multi-domain Alzheimer Preventive Trial) studies on prevention of AD and cognitive decline. It is curently working on the new generation of preventive trials based on biomarkers; 3) To develop clinical research for dependant elderly people, through the implementation of the REHPA research network including 240 nursing homes in France. In December 2009, additional grants were delivered by the French government to extend the three research axes for two more years, and establish a charter of quality for geriatric care in relation with the administration and relevant agencies.
