EDEN · European Dry Eye Network
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2015-03-01 → 2019-02-28
- EU contribution
- €2,484,775
- Participants
- 8
- Scheme
- MSCA-ITN-EJD
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
European Dry Eye Network
The primary objectives of EDEN were: 1. to advance in the understanding of Dry Eye Disease (DED) and provide diagnostic and therapeutic innovations for this most frequent of all ophthalmic diseases 2. to train 10 early-stage researchers (ESRs) in state-of-the-art concepts and research techniques essential to the study of the human eye, while providing them with strong career-management skills and sound professional network 3. to boost the impact, and the international visibility of European research, structuring research and training capacities in vision science around long-term synergistic collaboration among four academic institutions and four internationally reputed companies engaging in complementary fields of vision science. Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface that results in symptoms of discomfort, visual disturbance, tear alterations, and tear film instability with damage to the ocular surface. The lack of definitive diagnosis and etiology frustrates ophthalmologists and patients. This lack of concurrence in signs and symptoms poses a problem not only for diagnosing the disease but also for assessing its severity and designing clinical trials to evaluate the clinical efficacy of drugs. A consensus seems to have been reached on the need for newer metrics that may better identify the severity and aetiology of the disease. In light of the high prevalence of DED and the vast economic and human resources spent on treatments, new objective, non-invasive diagnostic technology is needed to enhance and predict the benefits of treatment.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
EDEN is a platform for the training and career development of 10 early-stage researchers (ESRs) in Vision Sciences. It coordinates research and training collaboration among 4 leading academic institutions in Europe, providing for a new combination of in-depth expertise from different countries. Furthermore, to strengthen the contact with the industrial world, the network has the following partners: 1 large company of hospitals, 1 SME that provides advance ophthalmic devices for ocular examination and 2 large companies specialized in eye-care products. It emphasises experience-based training through cross-disciplinary research projects that will analyse the lacrimal functional unit with state-of-the-art technology and assess the structural and physiological changes occurring in Dry Eye Disease (DED) patients. This will spur the generation of newer metrics to better differentiate between normal and DED patients. Further benefits include improvements in DED diagnosis and monitoring, studies on the effect of various DED treatments, development of DED aetiology-specific treatments and exploration of the risk factors that favour development of the disease or intensify its symptoms.EDEN will offer to 10 ESRs: (1) state-of-the-art approaches and techniques essential to studying DED through research projects, courses, and scientific exchange within and beyond the network; (2) essential career management skills via courses and practical activities aimed to develop their organisational, management and networking skills; (3) an understanding of the impact of research results for the private sector and insight into the business world via interaction with the industrial partners; (4) new possibilities of career development via professional contacts in academia and industry. The long-term synergies among EDEN partners, will structure European research and training capabilities in vision science. The training structure proposed will enable each ESR to earn a double PhD title.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/642760
- https://arquivo.pt/wayback/20190929192432/http://eden-ejd.eu/
- https://www.ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e5a799463f&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union