SUM - Research

Szczegóły: Opublikowano: 14 styczeń 2014; Poprawiono: 16 luty 2022

PROJECTS IN PROGRESS

Postgraduate education of doctors - development of education practical with the use of medical simulation techniques - Medical University of Silesia
Project no. POWR.05.04.00-00-0159/18

Specialization courses / training for doctors in the field of improving their professional skills, especially practice of surgical skills. The courses are organized in small groups. One of the parts is exercises on medical simulators.

Laparoscopic simulation training are not only equipment but also people who share their experience. The teachers are specialists in the field of general surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, cardiology and cardiosurgery.

Selected topics:
- Virtual simulation of laparoscopic techniques in pediatric surgery,
- Virtual simulation of thoracoscopy techniques in thoracic surgery,
- Virtual simulation of laparoscopic techniques in pediatric urology and urology,
- USG Fast – medical simulation,
- Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE),
- Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
„Zintegrowane Programy Uczelni SUM 2" (eng. „Medical University of Silesia Integrated Programs 2”)
Project nr POWR.03.05.00-00-Z077/18

Project „Medical University of Silesia Integrated Programs 2” is co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund under the Knowledge Education Development Operational Program. The contract for co-financing was signed with the National Center for Research and Development in Warsaw.

The main goal of the project is to increase the competence of the teaching staff in the field of equipping students with knowledge and practical skills allowing for health risk assessment and programming health prophylaxis for socio-economic needs, increasing the information competences of teaching staff in the use of electronic information sources, including medical databases. As part of the project, the competences and professional qualifications of the University teaching staff and students will also be improved by equipping the University with advanced virtual reality simulators: surgical tools and TRIAGE medical rescue. There are also plans to organize courses, study visits and practical fieldwork for students.

As part of the project, the implementation of a database system supporting the collection and sharing of domain data for exploration and analysis for educational purposes will be carried out: University Repository of Medical Cases; there will be also the implementation of an IT system for comprehensive support for the processes of handling scientific applications, order fulfillment and deliveries and the office document flow: Medical University of Silesia IT System 2020.

Project implementation period: 01.04.2019 r. to 01.10.2022 r.
Project value: PLN 10.121.258,43
„Zintegrowane Programy Uczelni na rzecz Rozwoju Regionalnego" (eng. „Integrated University Programs for Regional Development”)
Project nr POWR.03.05.00-00-ZR13/18

Project „Integrated University Programs for Regional Development” is co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund under the Knowledge Education Development Operational Program. The contract for co-financing was signed with the National Center for Research and Development in Warsaw.

The main goal of the project is to adapt and implement educational programs to the socio-economic needs at the national and regional level, aimed at equipping students of the Medical University of Silesia with practical skills, including through the purchase and training on virtual reality simulators: Medical Rescue, Chemical Laboratory and Anatomical Model of Human, also through the organization of high-quality internship programs. The project will also support IT tools for university management, thanks to the introduction of a system of virtual human resources, electronic gatehouses and electronic student satisfaction assessment.

Project implementation period: 01.04.2019 r. to 31.03.2023 r.
Project value: PLN 5.575.451,70
„Zintegrowane Programy Uczelni SUM" (eng. „Medical University of Silesia Integrated Programs”)
Project nr POWR.03.05.00-00-Z095/17-00

Project „Medical University of Silesia Integrated Programs” is co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund under the Knowledge Education Development Operational Program. The contract for co-financing was signed with the National Center for Research and Development in Warsaw.

The main goal of the project is to increase the competences of people participating in higher education, corresponding to the needs of the economy, labor market and society, and to support organizational changes and increase the competences of staff in the higher education system.

The project includes activities in the field of improving the competences of students by organizing workshops, high-quality internships and study visits, also includes activities in the field of training for the university's teaching and management staff. As part of the project, a didactic and training platform was purchased and launched.

Project implementation period: 01.03.2018 to 28.02.2022.
Project value: PLN 1.444.404,00
Title: Teleinformatic system for interactive health monitoring of people with respiratory diseases, in the local environment, enabling early prevention and personalized therapy

EnviroPulmoGuard project aims for development of an interactive health monitoring system for patients with respiratory system diseases. Based on measurements of patients parameters and state of environment around him the system will alert about high concentration of air pollution, predict disease exacerbation and suggest the need of using rescue medication. The device will facilitate disease control, promote health awareness and, finally, enhance well-being of the patient. Patients with airway diseases, namely asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), were chosen due to high prevalence of those diseases in society and, in consequence, significant impact on public health. Air pollution is thought to be a significant factor involved in disease exacerbation. Exacerbations are important events in natural course of the disease, with detrimental impact on quality of life, high social and economic costs. Exacerbations represent the main cause of death from airway diseases.

During the project implementation an experimental system will be developed. It will consist of three units: first monitoring patients physiological parameters, second concerned with the environment and third- monitoring centre, tasked with collecting and analysing monitored parameters. Units monitoring patient and environment will be worn by the patient. Obtained data will be coded and transmitted using Bluetooth standard to a smartphone with dedicated software installed. Subsequently the data will be sent using GSM network to the monitoring centre. The whole system will be clinically validated on a group of patients with respiratory system diseases. Accumulated data will be used to create a statistical model for disease exacerbation according to monitored parameters. The project will result in innovatory system for individual, objective monitoring of patients in local environment, allowing prediction and prevention of disease exacerbation in a specified person.
Title: Development of innovative methods to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of selected active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)

The aim of this project is the development of modern technologies to improve the solubility (and increase the bioavailability) of the three Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Two of them (bosentan and piribedil) belong to the II group of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), whereas the last one (rifaximin) belongs to the IV BCS group. Currently, the most frequently used (but not fully efficient) methods to improve solubility involve the formation of salts, prodrugs, complexes, as well as the preparation of nanoemulsions or micronization. In our project, the alternative paths, which include amorphization, micellization, and the modification of the morphology/polymorphism, will be applied for each of the studied APIs. Amorphous forms of selected pharmaceuticals will be prepared, including their Amorphous Solid Dispersions (ASDs), using small and macromolecular excipients. Moreover, we will try to control the morphological and polymorphic variations, e.g., by grinding and compression. In addition, unique polymers of different topologies (fitted to the properties of APIs) will be synthesized. Next, the novel micelles (as drug carriers) with the use of them will be created. Finally, using the developed technologies, simple pre-formulations will be created. Subsequently, release and solubility studies will be carried on with them. The obtained data will be compared to commercially available drugs containing bosentan, rifaximin, and piribedil. The project is the answer to the growing demand for effective, relatively simple, and low-cost methods to improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties of the APIs with low solubility (which represent half of the available pharmaceuticals, and almost 90% of the APIs in the development). What is more, the project assumes an increase in the effectiveness of the APIs prepared in this way, the development of targeted therapy, and economic benefits (as a result of the shorter registration pathway).
“Development of an in vitro model for the evaluation of phototoxicity of drugs with different affinity to melanin using a solar simulator – the study of cellular, molecular and biochemical mechanisms of the phototoxic reaction” SONATA-16

Phototoxicity is the most common type of skin-related adverse drug reactions. It is defined as an acute, light-induced, non-immune toxic reaction following skin exposure to a photosensitizing compound, either topically or systemically. Symptoms of drug-induced phototoxicity include erythema, swelling, blisters, exudation, peeling, burning, itching, and hyperpigmentation of the skin. Currently, the number of photosensitization cases is constantly increasing. The reasons for this can be found in excessive exposure to sunlight, dictated by the aesthetic value of a tan, as well as the increasing number of photosensitizing substances in food, dietary supplements, as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The risk of phototoxic reactions concerns several hundred currently used drugs.
Studies of drug phototoxicity are an important part of the safety assessment of medicinal products. Nowadays, 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) test is the most recommended and appropriate in vitro method to assess phototoxic potential. This test detects phototoxic properties of an evaluated substance, however, it has some serious limitations (the recommendation to use of filters attenuating UVB wavelengths). Furthermore, the assay does not determine the cellular, molecular and biochemical mechanisms and effects of the phototoxic action accurately. It does not take into account the role of melanin biopolymers that can take part in phototoxic reactions. Melanin is a group of macromolecular dyes responsible for the color of the skin, hair, and iris of the eye. Besides, they protect cells against the harmful effects of UV radiation and neutralize free radicals. Due to the formation of complexes with drugs, melanin affects their efficacy, and also their toxicity as well as the occurrence of side effects.
Taking into account in vivo conditions, it can be stated that the final response to phototoxic substances is in fact a result of many different mechanisms and processes. In addition to the phototoxic properties of an investigated substance, the following factors should be considered during the assessment of phototoxicity: the influence of individual ranges of sunlight (in particular: UVA, UVB, visible light), presence of melanin biopolymers, defense mechanisms of particular types of tested cells.
All of the above-mentioned factors indicate there is a real need to develop a new model of phototoxicity testing. The purpose of the project is the development of an entirely innovative in vitro model for the assessment of phototoxicity of drugs with different affinity to melanin using a broad-spectrum sunlight simulator.
The research will be carried out with the use of normal human skin cells with different content of melanin biopolymers, e.g. human dermal fibroblasts, human epidermal melanocytes lightly and darkly pigmented. In the first stage, it is planned to determine the appropriate dose of radiation as well as concentrations of the tested drugs concerning various models of the treatment including a repeated, multi-dose variant. The project involves the use of drugs with different affinity for melanin biopolymers, e.g. fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, psoralens and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Detailed research will be related to the evaluation of oxidative stress, inflammation and the process of melanogenesis. The planned experiments and analyzes will be carried out using the various laboratory techniques: image cytometry, fluorescence wide-field and confocal microscopy, colorimetric and fluorimetric tests, RT-qPCR, western blot, and immunoenzymatic assays ELISA. The innovation of a new model includes the use of differently pigmented cells, irradiation with the advanced sunlight simulator, and concerning multidirectional aspects of pharmacological properties of drugs. The introduced novelties will cause the test to reflect a lot of in vivo conditions to a great extent. The proposed experimental panel will allow for the first time elucidating the role of melanin and the mechanisms of phototoxicity in a comprehensive in vitro model. The project will expand the current state of knowledge in the field of phototoxicity nature itself. The detailed studies of cellular, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms will be related to melanogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

” Screening for new therapeutic targets in inherited retinal diseases based on protein-protein interactions analysis” POLS

In mammalian eye, the visual function depends on the formation of rod and cone photoreceptors of the retina. Rods and cones have three distinct cellular compartments: cell body, inner segment (IS), outer segment (OS), and connecting cilium (CC). The OS and CC together refer to the “sensory cilium”. Like other non-motile cilia, the axoneme of sensory cilium lacks a central pair microtubule, resulting in a 9+0 axoneme structure. The sensory cilium is loaded with proteins involved in the phototransduction cascade. Mutations in genes coding for ciliary proteins lead to ciliopathies. The retinal ciliopathies (RC) are broadly classified as two types, multisyndromic and non-syndromic. Functional defects that affect more organs than retina result in multi-syndromic RCs, such as Senior-Loken syndrome and Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Functional defects that manifested primarily to the photoreceptor cilia result in non-syndromic RCs, such as Leber Congenital Amaurosis and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). RCs encompass genetically and phenotypically diverse groups of diseases and generally exhibit high frequency in the population. Currently, there are no successful causative treatments and few therapeutic measures, so understanding disease pathogenesis at the molecular level is essential for developing potential therapies.
Differences among ciliopathy phenotypes are observed due to both, the causative gene and specific mutations within the unique gene. The specific mutation of the single gene can lead to multi-syndromic ciliopathy pathology, and different mutations in genes that exclusively caused retinal ciliopathies can share overlapping features in the clinical presentation. This blurs the distinction among clinical entities. Even when the genetic basis of a ciliopathy is well understood, the genotype to ciliopathy phenotype associations is still lacking. To understand how a genotype manifest in a phenotype/phenotypes is the process to map genetic alterations to their respective PPIs and biochemical pathways that are potentially affected. Therefore, our project's scientific goal is to elucidate the mechanisms of RCs at the protein level via the system and molecular biology approaches. We are aiming to answer the following three questions through the analysis: 1). Why mutations in the same gene can lead to different RCs phenotype. 2). Why mutations in different genes can lead to the same RCs phenotype. 3). Why mutations of non-syndromic RCs do not develop to syndromic RCs.
We will employ our recently developed approach, MAC (Multiple Approaches Combined) –tag system, which enables both affinity-purification coupled to Mass Spectrometry (AP-MS) and BioID-MS in a single pipeline to study protein interactome underlying retinal ciliopathy genes.
In total, 59 genes involved in at least two different RCs phenotypes will be tagged with MAC-tag and express in NIH-3T3 and 661W cell lines. Generated cell lines will be characterized and used for parallel AP-MS and BioID-MS analysis. The comprehensive protein-protein interaction (PPI) network surrounding all these 59 core components will be constructed based on interaction data. Moreover, through the enrichment and clustering analysis of the PPI data, we can recognize potential ciliopathy-associated protein candidates and diseaserelated subnetworks, which will be further validated by gene silencing. Additionally, we will purchase RC transgenic mouse models (Retinitis Pigmentosa, Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Bardet-Biedl Syndrome) to directly assess potential disease modules along with the dynamics of cilia loss and the resultant phenotypes over time. Furthermore, electrophysiology tests performed on available mouse models will allow us to investigate how the rapid development of the ciliopathy in the eye affects retinal function and vision.
In summary, our study, for the first time, represents the largest and most comprehensive resource of retinal ciliopathies with dynamics information. Since the approach of analyzing PPI as a part of disease pathogenesis is a relatively new research area, our project could open a new field in basic ocular science and help to understand mechanisms of other ocular disorders, such as optic neuropathies. In our opinion, due to the lack of causative treatment, any attempt to approach RCs with novel ideas brings new hopes for researchers to find a more efficient cure and for patients to preserve their vision.

“Development of an innovative method of preparing iPS cells for gene-cell therapy of hereditary diseases based on the Osteogenesis imperfecta model” PRELUDIUM

Our project assumes that it is possible to repair mutations in the COL1A1 gene in somatic cells obtained from patients with Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) by reprogramming them into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) and use of star polymer as a carrier of correct genetic material.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) have Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC)-like morphology and may be obtained through reprogramming of somatic cells. This process is a valuable tool to understand the mechanisms of regaining pluripotency and further opens up the possibility of generating patient-specific pluripotent stem cells. There are reports about usefulness of iPSCs in drug development, regenerative medicine and disease models that give an unique tool in the field of molecular medicine. Reprogramming of somatic cells into iPSCs deliver a great potential for obtaining undifferentiated cells well-matched to donor’s cell, which is priceless in avoiding a transplants’ rejection.
However, before the first therapies based on this method arise, the difficulties associated with the way these cells are obtained must be overcome. IPSs are formed by reprogramming somatic cells by introducing Oct4, Sox2, Lin28A and NANOG (OSLN) factors responsible for the state of pluripotency. For this purpose, the Sendai virus is used as a cDNA carrier encoding the factors necessary for their reprogramming. Unlike retroviruses, the Sendai virus does not build into the host genome and stays in the cytoplasm without changing the genetic information of the host cells. However, it should be noted that the use of adenoviruses or adenoassociated viruses also raises many doubts, because although they do not require integration with the host genome, in some cases their genetic material may be embedded in the cell. There is therefore a need to develop a new method that would allow cells to be reprogrammed without the use of viruses.
For these purpose we will use non-toxic and non-viral carriers, such as cationic star polymers, which directly introduce these factors into the cells in the form of proteins. The implementation of this innovative method would increase the efficiency of the reprogramming process, and most importantly, completely exclude the presence of virus in this process. Such carriers are neither immunogenic nor carcinogenic. In addition, they overcome both biological and physicochemical barriers during transport to the cytoplasm and further to the cell nucleus.
To prove the usefulness of the iPS obtained in this innovative method in gene therapy, we will try to repair the mutation in COL1A1 gene responsible for the Osteogenesis mperfecta (OI) development. OI is a disease caused by a collagen disorder, which makes bones more prone to fragility and brittleness. This disease is a monogenic disorder that results from damage to one gene. In 95% percent of cases, OI is caused by mutations in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes that encode the alpha1 and alpha2 collagen type 1 chains. Our goal is to repair the mutation detected in the DNA of the reprogrammed cells, and then transfection of the correct DNA with the star polymer as a carrier of genetic material. The use of such a polymer will protect DNA from its degradation by cell nucleases, which is a big problem when transfecting eukaryotic cells with other vectors.
Clones with the repaired mutation will undergo differentiation into precursors of osteoblasts and skin fibroblasts that produce procollagen type I and then we will sequence the COL1A1 gene to confirm the effectiveness of the mutation repair method.
Both the utilization of the potential of star polymers in the supply of proteins to cells for reprogramming to iPSs, as well as the repair of mutations in these cells will make a significant contribution to better understanding of the path of intracellular transport of particles, which will allow better understanding of the process of obtaining pluripotent cells as an innovative tool of genetic therapy.

“Development of new implantable drug forms, biodegradable nanofibers containing selected botulin derivatives in order to increase their anticancer effectiveness” OPUS

Insufficient drug uptake by solid tumors remains a major problem for systemic chemotherapy. Also, a local recurrence following cancer surgery remains a clinical challenge. The idea of loco-regional drug treatments, which offer significantly higher drug concentrations in the tumor bed or the tumor tissue while minimizing systemic toxicity seems to be a solution. To acquire a high drug loading capacity, electrospun (ES) nanofiber matrices (patches), called also nonwovens, have been widely explored as promising drug delivery systems. ES nonwovens provide a high surface area to volume ratio, the controllable pore sizes and the tunable drug release profiles at the desired site of action. There are various kinds of such nanofibers analyzed so far under in vitro and in vivo conditions, showing inhibiting effect compared to the intravenously applied drug.
The aim of the project is to develop the nanofibers with betulin or its derivatives (E-29-diethoxyphosphoryl-28-Opropynoylbetulin (ECH147B) and 30-diethoxyphosphoryloxy-28-O-propynoylbetulin (ECH160B)) of a sustained drug release and the proper mechanical properties (flexibility). The nonwovens with paclitaxel will also be obtained in order to compare if electrospun material loaded with betulin derivatives can be as effective as ES delivery system loaded with well-known chemotherapeutic. The dosage forms of TaxolTM injected intraperitoneally will be compared with intratumorally implanted ES paclitaxel-loaded nanofiber so as to compare if electrospun drug delivery systems with current treatment standards. The ES drug-loaded implants are intended to be implanted into a tumor resection cavity or directly into the tumor tissue (in case of the inoperable cancers), as a postoperative chemotherapy of the cancers reducing the toxicity and side effects compared to the conventional systemic therapy. According to our best knowledge, the implantable delivery systems for the sustained release of betulin derivatives have not been obtained yet. The project will be realized within 5 tasks, in the cooperation of Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Silesia (Leader), Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences and National Research Institute of Oncology. The ES nanofibers will be obtained from thebioresorbable polyesters: poly(lactide-glycolide) and poly(lactide-caprolactone), synthesized in task 1. Their degradation rate is easily tailorable (e.g. by a molar mass, composition and copolymer microstructure). In parallel, betulin and betulin derivatives will be obtained in task 2. Then, the electrospinning process will be optimized and bioresorbable electrospun nanofibers loaded with anticancer agent will be obtained (Task 3). The morphology, drug release profiles, degradation of the materials, as well as their cytotoxic activity will be characterized. Finally, the developed delivery system will be verified in vitro (Task 4) and under in vivo conditions on the mouse breast cancer model (task 5). The response to the therapy will be evaluated in vivo by MRI.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type in women. The residual tumor cells in the surgical margins of the tumor bed increase the risk of cancer recurrence. The systemic application of the drug to the solid tumor leads to many adverse side effects. We expect that the developed patches loaded with an anticancer agent may bring essential progress in the implantable delivery systems for the cancer treatment: improvement of effectiveness and reduction of toxicity and side effects compared to the conventional systemic therapy. The project novelty is using the tailored-made polymers with a specifically designed microstructure that provides a controlled and sustained drug release. Also, despite the increasing number of reports on the electrospun delivery systems, there are still challenges in their applications: achieving uniform drug distribution, avoiding the initial burst release of the drugs. Another innovation is designing of the ES nanofibers (their composition and the structure providing the mechanical properties and flexibility needed for surgical implantation) that will be verified in vivo. The ES nanofibers obtained from the aliphatic polyesters with a tailored microstructure for a sustained release of the betulin derivatives have not been discovered so far and are promising for an implantable anticancer treatment.
The “Polish Platform of Medical Research: a knowledge and research potential management platform” project (contract no. POPC.02.03.01-00-0008/17-00, Operational Programme Digital Poland for 2014-2020) co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

Polish Platform of Medical Research (PPM) is a knowledge and research potential managment platform a join project of medical universities of Bialystok, Gdansk, Katowice, Lublin, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wroclaw (the leader of the project) and Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine.

The primary objective of the Polish Platform of Medical Research (PPM) project is digital sharing of scientific resources of the PPM Project Partners through their depositing on project servers in digital format and enriching them with metadata, as well as making them available on the Internet in machine-readable formats.

The objectives of the Polish Platform of Medical Research project have been established based on an analysis of the socio-economic environment and will contribute to meeting the following needs of that environment:

Other
- Providing open access to full texts of publications, doctoral theses, research data and other documents in a repository.
- Showcasing research potential of universities and medical institutes on a common platform.
- Showcasing research achievements of universities and medical institutes on a common platform.
- Providing access to a database of experts from various medical fields.
- Promoting Polish scientific output worldwide.
- Providing unlimited access to data across time and space.
- Automation of the processes used in creating profiles of researchers and research potential of institutions.
- Application of research results within the business sector.
- Option for generating reports and analyses based on the data stored in the repository.
- Vast access to updates in the area of medicine in Poland.
- Facilitating access to research funding programmes and rationalizing expenses for scientific research.
Read more:
https://ppm.sum.edu.pl/index.seam?lang=en&cid=1140
https://youtu.be/5sLMLeRnAas
Joint Funding Action “Effectiveness of existing policies for lifestyle interventions – Policy Evaluation Network” (PEN)

Public policies addressing health-related behaviours in Europe. PEN aims to evaluate policy measures to promote a healthy diet and physical activity of the population in terms of their content, mplementation and effectiveness. The project started on 1st February 2019 as part of the Joint Programming Initiative on a Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI HDHL) and will run until end of September 2022, after a 6 month extension.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s H2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement n.696300

Read more:
https://www.jpi-pen.eu
https://www.healthydietforhealthylife.eu/index.php/joint-actions/policy-evaluation
Joint Action on implementation of validated best practices (in Nutrition) (Best Re-Map)

Best-ReMaP is a Europe-wide Joint Action that seeks to contribute to an improved quality of food supplied to citizens of Europe by facilitating the exchange and testing of good practices concerning:
(1) the monitoring and analysis of how the food that people consume changes at the European and national level,
(2) the regulations on the marketing of food and beverages to children,
(3) and the procurement of food by public bodies for educational institutions, social care facilities, etc.

To achieve these goals, during its lifetime (2020-2023), the Best-ReMaP project will contribute to European initiatives that seek to change the current food environment available for Europeans by:
- providing Member States assistance to produce a snapshot of food currently offered to consumers at national markets and with this food snapshot methodology offer an opportunity to monitor the impact of national regulations aimed at decreasing the salt, sugar and fat contents of processed food;
- creating the Food Information Database to ensure the sustainability of data collection on food reformulation (i.e. changing and regulating the food composition that can be offered on the market) at the EU and national levels and of monitoring trends in food reformulation;
- reducing the impact of harmful marketing of food to children in the EU by considering options to extend an existing Scandinavian regulation model across the EU Member States;
- and improving the quality of menus in the kitchens of public institutions by ensuring a more professional and principled procurement procedure;
Best-ReMaP will build on the networks of stakeholders in the field of nutrition at national and EU level to organise workshops and conferences. Here, health professionals and policy makers can discuss and share solutions to implement good practices developed by the specialised working groups of the project.

Read more:
https://bestremap.eu
https://www.facebook.com/people/Best-ReMaP-EU/100063756596990
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/chafea_pdb/health/projects/951202/summary
Translational approaches to disease modifying therapy of type 1 diabetes - HARVESTing the fruits of INNODIA (INNODIA HARVEST)

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) initiated by the European Commission has approved an additional section of work on biomarkers and prevention of type 1 diabetes within INNODIA. This additional section builds on the strong base of INNODIA and will be called INNODIA HARVEST. INNODIA has developed a unique European clinical and fundamental research network for the study of type 1 diabetes (T1D). An additional, even more ambitious program is now being proposed in this research network, aimed at 'harvesting' the findings that have already arisen from INNODIA.

Consolidation and innovation are key words.

First, the INNODIA Clinical Network consolidates as a pan-European reference point for conducting studies to prevent or cure T1D. Standardized clinical and bio-research platforms built in INNODIA are upgraded into a powerful network allowing us to conduct clinical trials aimed at preventing and curing T1D. These trials can be both academic and industry sponsored. We are performing smaller, mechanistic, biomarker-rich intervention tests to better understand the development of T1D. Several large studies are underway in the network, notably the MELD-ATG trial (seeking the lowest, safest dose of anti-thymocyte globulin, a Sanofi product, in children with newly-diagnosed T1D), the VER-A-T1D trial (investigating whether verapamil in adults with newly diagnosed T1D can stop disease progression), the Iscalimab study (study investigating children with newly diagnosed T1D or Iscalimab, a Novartis product can safely stop disease progression). In addition, Imcyse, a small Belgian company, a member of the network is testing its new "Immotope" technology in a small mechanistic study.

The second key word of INNODIA HARVEST is innovation. The network is operating based on the INNODIA Master Protocol, allowing different interventions to be compared. Another innovation is the introduction of new (discovered by the network) biomarkers as well as new clinical (continuous glucose monitoring) and experimental (microbiome analysis) markers, in order to better understand the heterogeneity of T1D and thus lead to faster healing strategies. Furthermore, the basic research of INNODIA's group of researchers is flowing further into INNODIA HARVEST to promote the next generation of target identification and drug development.

Finally, as in INNODIA, the voice of people living with T1D and their families remains at the center of INNODIA HARVEST to drive the implementation of new, patient-centered results, shape our clinical trials and make a meaningful change in the disease perspective.

Read more:
https://www.innodia.eu/harvest
https://www.imi.europa.eu/projects-results/project-factsheets/innodia-harvest
https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/news/innodia
Competences in Health Network Management (Com.HeNet)

The Erasmus+ project "Competences in Health Network Management (Com.HeNet)" goes on from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2022. It aims to develop curriculum modules for "Health Network Management" (HNM) with a European standard, which enables a health professional to implement and manage a health network (HN) on regional level.

The project aims to develop curriculum modules for "Health Network Management" (HNM) with a European standard, which enables a health professional to implement and manage a health network (HN) on regional level. To get an efficient overview about the needed competences for this HN manager and the given structural and environmental circumstances, these competences will be analysed through desktop research and structured/guided interviews with relevant stakeholders and experts in the participating countries and envolved into national competence profiles. Based on the national competence profiles, a core competence profile will be developed for an HNM through comparison of all information gathered and a collation with relevant European Competence Frameworks and European Qualification Framework (EQF).

Furthermore, important objectives are new curriculum modules designed for EQF level 6 with content and materials based on the developed core competence profile. These curriculum modules will be tested through a pilot training with participants representing the proposed target groups of degree holders in health and health professionals. The modules will then be reviewed based on the pilot training and the training participants’ and trainers’ feedback.

Additionally, an important objective of Com.HeNet is the description of a Data Management System and the development of a guideline for digital skills and competences, on the basis and with the use of the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp 2.1). Both will constitute additional, independent output of the project and be used for the development of the curriculum modules and for the HN implementation and management. These are important aspects because of the proceeding digitalization and the significance of digital data and information for improving health care and promotion of health.

As important outputs of the project, the curriculum modules are expected to get included into higher education and vocational education curricula to enable health professionals to implement and manage regional HNs in EU countries. In the long run, the project contributes to the improvement of regional supply structures in EU countries. In this way, Com.HeNet contributes to the EU Health Strategy. Therefore, the curriculum modules have an explicit European added value and will contribute to overcoming the mismatch between given and needed competences in health sector across the EU.

Read more:
https://www.fom.de/forschung/institute/ifgs-institut-fuer-gesundheit-und-soziales/com-henet.html
https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/de
METEOR: MEnTal hEalth: fOcus on Retention of healthcare workers

METEOR’S GENERAL OBJECTIVES :
- Enhance scientific knowledge on job retention for healthcare workers in EU countries
- Identify and analyse the main predictors of job retention in 4 European countries (Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, and Italy)
- Develop evidence-based policy recommendations through continuous stakeholder engagement and interactive co-creation workshops
- Present all the results from the above in an easy-accessible and searchable online toolbox for multiple stakeholders.
Read more: http://meteorproject.eu
PROFID: Implementation of personalised risk prediction and prevention of sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction.

The aim of PROFID is to develop a personalized prediction of risk for sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction, a leading cause of death in Europe, as well as a personalized sudden cardiac death prevention by targeted implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. The ultimate goal is to successfully prevent the majority of the catastrophic sudden cardiac death events that occur after myocardial infarction by accurate and timely identification of those patients that are at high risk for sudden cardiac death (based on multiple factors, over and above LVEF, including relevant clinical characteristics/biomarkers) followed by implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation. Thus, PROFID aims to close the huge gap of current clinical practice with regard to protection from sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction.

Read more: https://profid-project.eu
ESPE: Personalized approach to non-syndromic childhood obesity using multi-omics disease signature

General Aim of the Study: Develop a personalized approach to childhood obesity by utilizing a high throughout data analysis of steroidal and bile salts signature and genetic + microbiomic profile combined with detailed clinical-chemical-endocrine phenotype.

Read more: https://www.eurospe.org
Clinical development and proof of principle testingof new regenerative VEGF-D therapy for cost-effective treatment of refractory angina A phase II randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study - ReGenHeart

ReGenHeart

The project will conduct a multicentre, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blinded Phase II clinical study to provide proof of concept and clinical validation for a new, percutaneous, cost-efficient gene therapy for refractory angina patients. Using our optimized catheter mediated intramyocardial approach with adenovirus-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor-D (AdVEGF-D), which had never been used in man before our phase I trial, we aim to induce regenerative changes supported by therapeutic angiogenesis in the affected area of a patient's heart and, in a single procedure, reduce the burden on the individual and their health service.

The trial will be conducted in six European clinical centres in Finland, United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Austria and Denmark. The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation progamme under grant agreement No 731532.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Joint Action on Nutrition and Physical Activity (JANPA)

Janpa

The overall aim of the project is to contribute to halting the rise of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents by 2020. JANPA stands for “Joint Action on Nutrition and Physical Activity”.

Read more - http://www.janpa.eu/

Systems Biology towards Novel Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis and Treatment (SysKid)

SysKid

SysKid, a large-scale integrating European research project, aims at deepening our understanding of chronic kidney disease. The project paves the way for progress in prevention, new diagnostic strategies and treatment options for declining kidney function, which affects millions of patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension.