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H2020Staff exchange2019–2024

RNADIAGON · Excellence in research and development of non-coding RNA DIAGnostics in ONcology

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2019-02-01 → 2024-07-31
EU contribution
€662,400
Participants
7
Scheme
MSCA-RISE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Excellence in research and development of non-coding RNA DIAGnostics in ONcology

Cancer occurs in more than 2 million individuals every year in Europe alone. It is widely recognized that early diagnosis and monitoring of the disease - during therapy and post-treatment follow-up- is a key step for successful patient management: it helps to offer on-time curative intervention and selecting the most appropriate therapy, improves the quality of life, while contributing to reduce the economic and social burden for both patients and society. Project RNADIAGON aimed at development of personal skills and knowledge of early-stage and experienced researchers working in the field of small non-coding RNA diagnostics from five European research institutions through their long-term stays at one of the world-leading ncRNAs research centers in United States and traineeships at the education center and manufacturing facilities of industrial partner developing small ncRNAs-based certified diagnostics. This research and innovation staff exchange was expected to increase the scientific excellence and quality of related research in the EU research institutions. The expected impacts of RNADIAGON project on career prospects were fully accomplished. As planned, during the secondments of Early-Stage Researchers (ESR) and Experienced Researchers (ERs) at UNITEX, the secondees were trained at (i) advanced techniques and protocols on collection, processing and storage of clinical specimens and circulating extracellular vesicles as key and specific carriers of cellular components including small ncRNAs, (ii) cutting-edge technologies used in research of small ncRNAs as biomarkers in human cancers, and also (iii) basic research of biology and function of ncRNA in human cells including their impact in tumorigenesis. Both ESR and ERs improved their skills and utilized them at their original labs after their return, thus increasing the excellence and competitiveness of project partner institutions. On the other hand, BIOVENDOR, a biotechnology company, led and trained the partners (i) in novel detection approaches for small ncRNAs, but mainly (ii) assay development and validation and CE-IVD certification for new diagnostic products and (iii) better understanding of business-driven research environment and translational perspective and mindset.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Cancer occurs in more than 2 million individuals every year in Europe alone. It is widely recognized that early diagnosis and monitoring of the disease - during therapy and post-treatment follow-up- is a key step for successful patient management: it helps to offer on-time curative intervention and selecting the most appropriate therapy, improves the quality of life, while contributing to reduce the economic and social burden for both patients and society. There are screening programs available for early detection of some cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Unfortunately, current CRC screening tests suffer with unsatisfactory sensitivity and specificity and low compliance of targeted population. On the other hand, there are cancers with poorly performing biomarkers as in the case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or no biomarkers at all (e.g. renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which limits not only the screening options but also the diagnosis or monitoring of the disease. Therefore, there is a need for new diagnostic biomarkers and accurate technologies to enable precise detection of asymptomatic tumors in a short time, low costs and, if possible, with minimal invasiveness and risks for the patients. From this perspective, cancer specific small non-coding RNAs (small ncRNAs) circulating in body fluids such as blood serum or plasma present promising diagnostic approach. Project RNADIAGON aims at development of personal skills and knowledge of early-stage and experienced researchers working in the field of small non-coding RNA diagnostics from five European research institutions through their long-term stays at one of the world-leading ncRNAs research centers in United States and traineeships at the education center and manufacturing facilities of industrial partner developing small ncRNAs-based certified diagnostics. This research and innovation staff exchange will increase the scientific excellence and quality of related research in the EU research institutions.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • Masarykova univerzita · BrnoCoordinatorCzechia
  • BIOVENDOR LABORATORNI MEDICINA SRO · BRNOCzechia
  • MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAT GRAZ · GrazAustria
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM · AustinUnited States
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA · FerraraItaly
  • UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM HAMBURG-EPPENDORF · HamburgGermany
  • UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE IULIU HATIEGANU CLUJ-NAPOCA · Cluj-NapocaRomania

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union