The Atlas holds the detailed records behind the rest of the site. Each entry names its sources, the date it was last checked and a status, so you can see how current it is. Families can start with the plain-language pages on the home page. Clinicians, researchers and partners can go straight to the sections below.
Prion diseases are caused by misfolded prion protein. The best known human form is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which can be sporadic, genetic or acquired through healthcare exposure. Diagnosis combines clinical assessment with tests, and confirmation needs brain tissue. No treatment has yet been shown to cure these diseases, so many entries describe research that is still early.
What does the Atlas contain?
| Section | What you will find |
|---|---|
| Trials | Clinical studies, with sponsor-stated eligibility and the date it was read |
| Tests and assays | Diagnostic and research tests, from spinal fluid assays to blood and imaging markers |
| Therapies in development | Approaches under study, by stage |
| Organizations | Surveillance centres, labs, clinics, foundations, companies, regulators and funders |
| Regulations | Laws and guidance that affect prion disease, blood, tissue, medicines and genetic testing |
| Key papers | Studies the Atlas relies on |
| Funding programs | Grants and awards that support prion research |
| Events and conferences | Scientific and family meetings |
| Glossary | Short definitions of terms used across the site |
| Sources | The sources the Atlas draws on |
How current is an entry?
Each entry shows when it was last checked. Trial and therapy status changes often, so confirm it with the sponsor or the registry before relying on it. The About page explains how the site works, and Partners is for organizations that want to contribute.
Can I use the Atlas to decide something about my own care?
No. The Atlas gives general information. A doctor or genetic counsellor can talk through symptoms, tests and family questions with you.
Explore
- Events and conferencesConferences and meetings on prion disease in the Atlas, with dates and places as stated by their organisers.
- Funding programsGrants, networks and funders that support prion disease research, with the CJD Foundation 2024 and 2026 grant rounds and links to each Atlas entry.
- GlossaryPlain definitions of terms used on The Generative Brain, from prion and PrP to RT-QuIC, penetrance and surrogate endpoint, with links to full entries.
- OrganizationsOrganizations in the Atlas that work on prion disease: surveillance centres, labs, clinics, patient groups, companies, regulators and funders.
- Key papersKey papers on prion disease used in the Atlas, including studies of animal prion transmission to humans, surveillance and genetic testing.
- RegulationsLaws, regulators and advisory bodies that apply to prion disease, blood, tissue, medicines and genetic testing, with links to each Atlas entry.
- Tests and assaysTests and assays for prion disease in the Atlas, from spinal fluid and imaging tests to amplification assays and blood markers, with their evidence.
- Therapies in developmentTherapies for prion disease in development, grouped by approach, with stage and evidence. No treatment has yet been shown safe and effective in people.
- Trials and studiesClinical trials and observational studies in prion disease, from completed drug trials to the first PrP-lowering trials now under way.