Project code: 337-00-205/2019-09/19
Project type: Project of bilateral scientific and technological cooperation between Republic of Croatia and Republic of Serbia
Project funding: Serbian Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development; Croatian Ministry of Science and Education
Project duration: 1st May, 2019 – 30th April, 2021

Participants: Serbian team: Mirjana Čolović, PhD (COST member); Danijela Krstić, PhD (COST member); Marko Dinčić, PhD student; Branislava Savić, PhD student;
Croatian team: Goran Gajski, PhD (COST member); Marko Gerić, PhD; Mirta Milić, PhD; Ana-Marija Domijan, PhD;

Short project description:
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a serine hydrolase that terminates impulse transmission at cholinergic synapses by the rapid hydrolysis of neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Reversible inhibitors of this enzyme have been applied in the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease associated with the loss of cholinergic neurons in the brain and the decreased level of acetylcholine.
Although the AChE inhibitor therapy results in improving cognitive abilities, the long-term application may induce undesirable side effects such as gastrointestinal problems and hepatotoxicity. For this reason, new compounds have been synthesized in order to find both efficient and less toxic pharmaceuticals for neurological disorders. Considering toxicity is a main limitation in the clinical application of physiologically active agents, the objective of this project is to evaluate in vitro prooxidative and genotoxic effects of synthesized metal-based compounds, promising anti-Alzheimer therapeutics exhibiting strong anti-AChE action.

The Netherlands X-omics Initiative is a new facility as part of the National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Infrastructures. It is partly funded by NWO with a total budget of 40 million euro. The project started on September 2018 and will last for ten years.

The project aims to establish a X-omics research infrastructure across the Netherlands consisting of several existing facilities with various expertise’s related to molecular biology research (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and data integration & analysis).

Through the project, we will:
1. Advance X-omics technologies far beyond state-of-art.
2. Realize an integrated X-omics infrastructure in the Netherlands.

Access will be provided to these facilities to enable researchers to use the newest X-omics technologies in their projects and drive new insights in biology.

A helpdesk will be created through which researchers can get into contact with our experts for advice on X-omics approaches in general or specific omics-related sample or data analysis challenges.

During the project, training schools will be set up with courses on X-omics approaches and several meetings will be organized to expand the Dutch X-omics community.

A proof of principle of the X-omics approach will be provided by starting 3 technological demonstrators on different levels (cellular, individual and population).

A consortium to assist biomarkers reach their full potential.

Biomarkers are potential prognostic, diagnostic, and treatment indicators. Despite their increasing potential for precision medicine, their development into commercial products is very challenging. The purpose of a new Baltic Sea Region (BSR) consortium is to create tools for supporting and overcoming the challenges of biomarker commercialization.

The objectives of BIC consortium are to create:
- a biomarker development tool for researchers
- a screening and selection guide for TTOs
- a framework for technology translation into clinical setting
- new business model templates
- a biomarker platform with access to the tools and technology presentations for match making.

Topic identifier: SC1-BHC-02-2019
Publication date: 27 October 2017
Types of action: RIA Research and Innovation action
DeadlineModel: two-stage
Planned: 26 July 2018
Deadline: 02 October 2018
2nd stage Deadline: 16 April 2019

Specific Challenge:
Many complex disorders pose a challenge to identify the most effective therapeutic interventions because current therapies often target specific aspects of a disease, without achieving complete control or the best possible results for patients. Due to the multiple causes of such diseases and the heterogeneity between patients, approaches directed at single targets have had limited efficacy, overlooking important factors involved in disease pathophysiology. Hence, a promising therapeutic approach to meet this challenge is to combine different therapies, while increasing therapeutic efficacy in a cost-effective manner.

Topic identifier: SC1-BHC-01-2019
Publication date: 27 October 2017
Types of action: RIA Research and Innovation action
DeadlineModel: two-stage
Planned: 26 July 2018
Deadline: 02 October 2018
2nd stage Deadline: 16 April 2019

Specific Challenge:
The increasing number of individuals with co-and multimorbidities poses an urgent need to improve management of patients with multiple co-existing diseases. A better understanding of their causative mechanisms is needed to develop early diagnosis, efficient prevention and monitoring, and better treatments adapted to co- and multimorbid patients throughout their life course. Furthermore, there are many different etiological models of comorbid conditions (e.g., direct causation model or a consequence of treatment). In this context, capturing and measuring patient's complexity in the context of co- and multimorbidities is crucial for adequate management of these conditions and requires innovative approaches.

M Rinaldo, J Pralong, N Hopf, JJ Sauvain, G Suarez, P Wild, I Guseva Canu, Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem with a prevalence in Switzerland reaching 15.9% in men. Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is a known COPD risk factor via oxidative stress pathway. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their metabolites could be predictive to COPD onset and be used as diagnostic biomarkers.

ROBoCop project, in the framework of CliniMark EU-COST Action, aims to select and validate a panel of oxidative stress biomarkers analyzed in non-invasive biological samples.

The research is divided into three studies:
- An experimental study aiming to standardize the biological sampling procedures and analytic techniques for oxidative stress biomarkers (8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde, NO2-, NO3-, formate ions and 8-OHdG) in exhaled breath condensate and urine and for oxidative potential in the exhaled air (OPEA) analyzed with our OPEA analyzer (EU and USA patent) a promising method in COPD diagnosis.
- A pilot study in the field, at a Parisian Transport Company (RATP) to determine the best time to collect samples and assess the suitability of the selected biomarkers in surveying RATP workers exposed to PM.
- A field study conducted among 300 RATP workers selected by stratified randomization from 45’000 workers. Statistical analyzes of medical examination (lung function test) and biomarkers data will aim to determine the associations of one or a panel of the selected biomarkers with obstructive syndrome (FEV1/FVC<70%).

Our results will allow us to validate a useful and cost-effective method in screening large populations at risk of COPD. It will also be useful in monitoring COPD evolution and severity in patients.
ROBoCop project is supported by the Swiss National Scientific Foundation and French RATP company and involves researchers and occupational physicians from Switzerland and France.

During the Waters MS Technology Days 2017 in Basel (6/27) and Lausanne (6/27) research results were presented from a BDC study carried out in the group of Dr. Theo Luider at the Erasmus MC (Rotterdam) about development and application of an LC-MS assay to evaluate Pregnancy Zone Protein as potential biomarker for the prediction of Alzheimer's disease. Information about the meeting here.