DECODE · Drug-coated balloon simulation and optimization system for the improved treatment of peripheral artery disease

Drug-coated balloon simulation and optimization system for the improved treatment of peripheral artery disease

DECODE has focused on the training of young scientists on the use of drug-eluting devices to combat the burden of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD affects 202 million patients worldwide and may cause disabling intermittent claudication and critical limb ischemia (CLI). The global prevalence of PAD has been increased especially in low-income and middle-income countries, exceeding 20% in persons >70 years old. The majority of patients with CLI have distal arterial disease located mainly below the knee. The endovascular treatment landscape encompasses a broad range of interventions, with each option having advantages and disadvantages. Bare metal stents (BMS) usually yield better outcomes compared to plain balloon angioplasty alone as they stabilize any dissection and prevent rapid elastic recoil. However, they increase local inflammation, leading to neointimal hyperplasia formation and in-stent restenosis. Also, they are associated with increased fracture rate, especially in the femoropopliteal segment. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) and drug eluting stents (DES) have been developed to address the aforementioned disadvantages. The advantage of using paclitaxel-coated balloons is the ability to deliver the necessary drug to the affected areas without a permanent vascular prosthesis. Regarding femoropopliteal lesions, DCBs have been found to be superior than plain balloons as far as clinical improvement, target lesion revascularization and restenosis are concerned. Compared to DES, results are promising showing equal efficiency with lower cost even for long femoropopliteal lesions although data are still limited. The overall objectives of DECODE were to provide: -Excellent scientific training on the biomechanical properties of DCBs, integrating clinical knowledge with technological skills on materials science, engineering and numerical modelling to generate innovative insights triggering the improved understanding and treatment of PAD. -Excellent complementary skills in personal and career development, as well as ongoing support and business training required to extend beyond scientific research. -Exposure to both academic and non-academic environments, required to build bridges between researchers and companies, between theory and practice, which is challenging for young researchers and necessary for businesses. -An advising network to ensure that Early Stage Reasearchers (ESRs) will become well-rounded scientists, as well as well-rounded persons. This multidisciplinary training programme has been implemented by leading universities, clinical centers and non-academic partners from Europe and US. Overall, no delays and deviations have appeared and the objectives have been successfully addressed within RP1 and RP2.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union