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H2020Doctoral network2017–2021

Foie Gras · Bioenergetic Remodeling in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2017-01-01 → 2021-06-30
EU contribution
€3,202,196
Participants
14
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Bioenergetic Remodeling in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Despite over 30 years of major progress in the knowledge and management of liver disease, approximately 29 million people in the European Union currently suffer from a chronic liver condition, with cirrhosis and primary liver cancer representing the end-stage of liver pathology. The overall aims of FOIE GRAS are 1) to identify mechanisms and consequences of metabolic remodeling secondary to mitochondrial alterations during NAFLD, 2) to explore how the gut-liver axis is disrupted in NAFLD and how that impacts hepatic metabolism and 3) to identify related circulating biomarkers that will underpin better diagnostic tests for NAFLD and allow designing interventions that alleviate NAFLD through hepatic or gut metabolic remodelling. This training network intends to exploit complementary expertise of different partners across the EU in order to train future leaders in Europe in this important research topic, as well as creating value, employment and new societal behaviours in the EU. The FOIE GRAS programme aims to develop 13 integrated Ph.D. research projects to investigate internal and external mediators of metabolic remodelling, including modified gut-liver crosstalk in the development of NAFLD. FOIE GRAS will intersect basic and translational research, clinical implementation, technology development and transfer, and social outreach, under a common and focused strategy.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

FOIE GRAS provides innovative training for 13 early stage researchers (ESRs) to answer two critical and unanswered questions: a) Is hepatic bioenergetic remodelling involved in NAFLD pathogenesis, and target for stratification or therapeutic/lifestyle interventions? and b) Is the disruption of the gut-liver axis involved in NAFLD progression? In Western Societies, there has been a recent surge of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Its progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading risk factor for development of Type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. FOIE GRAS is first in supporting a cohesive and synergistic intersection of complementary and interdisciplinary training skills from academic and non-academic partners. FOIE GRAS combines strong scientific expertise with integrated and complementary training in translational research, clinical practice, technology commercialization, and public outreach, the combination of which in targeting NAFLD is lacking in the EU. Industrial partners CETICS, Mediagnost and Seahorse Biosciences provide experience on technology commercialization alongside scientific contributions while the affiliated patient organization will contribute with important training in societal awareness topics. ESRs training will utilize network-wide workshops and secondments to foster translation of basic research to clinical applications and SME creation. This diverse yet integrated skill set enhances the employment prospects of the trained researchers in both academic and non-academic sectors. Researchers will be endowed with excellent basic scientific knowledge and timely technology transfer know-how for developing novel therapeutic approaches for reversing the burden of NAFLD, thereby advancing both health and economic well-being of European citizens and approaching NAFLD research in the EU from its counterparts in the US and Asia.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • CENTRO DE NEUROCIENCIAS E BIOLOGIACELULAR ASSOCIACAO · COIMBRACoordinatorPortugal
  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridSpain
  • ASSOCIACAO PROTECTORA DOS DIABETICOS DE PORTUGAL · LisboaPortugal
  • CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE · RomaItaly
  • Cetics GmbH · Esslingen am NeckarGermany
  • FYZIOLOGICKY USTAV AKADEMIE VED CESKE REPUBLIKY VEREJNA VYZKUMNA INSTITUCE (VVI) · Praha 4Czechia
  • Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa · LisboaPortugal
  • HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM MUENCHEN DEUTSCHES FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM FUER GESUNDHEIT UND UMWELT GMBH · NeuherbergGermany
  • INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE · ParisFrance
  • INSTYTUT BIOLOGII DOSWIADCZALNEJ IM. M. NENCKIEGO POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK · WarszawaPoland
  • MEDIAGNOST GESELLSCHAFT FUR FORSCHUNG UND HERSTELLUNG VON DIAGNOSTIKA GMBH · ReutlingenGermany
  • SEAHORSE BIOSCIENCE EUROPE APS · KOBENHAVNDenmark
  • UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO · PortoPortugal
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI BARI ALDO MORO · BariItaly

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union