Fibrosis-related chronic diseases (CDs) are amongst the biggest societal burdens in Europe, with fibrosis being recognised as the main driver of morbidity and mortality. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key player in fibrosis, with an excessive accumulation of type I collagen (COL1) being a predominant component of the fibrotic tissue. While the increase in COL1 production is considered a main driver of fibrosis, respective drugs had limited efficacy. New evidence indicates that attenuation of COL1 degradation is highly relevant, contributing to onset and progression of fibrosis. Ambitious early stage researchers (ESRs) will join forces within a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive and inter-sectoral doctorate training programme, embedded in an existing network of excellent research groups across Europe, to investigate the “outside-the-box idea” on impaired COL1 degradation being a key driver of fibrosis. The main scientific goal is to improve the understanding of molecular mechanisms associated with COL1 degradation in major fibrosis-related CDs, and investigate the disruptive hypothesis of attenuated COL1 degradation being the key driver of fibrosis and a major contributor to onset and progression of CDs. This will be achieved through multi-disciplinary research and training combining state-of-the-art –omics approaches and data (peptidomics, proteomics and transcriptomics) in a bioinformatics framework, followed by in- and ex-vivo investigation, complemented with ESRs training on translational skills and competences. Such a programme will train a new generation of translational researchers able to covert ideas into products, and will have a profound impact on their employability, and competitiveness. The project will progress beyond the state of the art and provide the currently missing fundamental knowledge on the molecular pathophysiology of COL1 degradation, setting up the stage for novel biomarkers and anti-fibrotic therapies.

In 2017, on a world scale the total number of individuals with chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and those on renal replacement therapy exceeded 850 million, a truly concerning figure that is twice the estimated number of people with diabetes worldwide and >20 times higher than the number of individuals affected by AIDS/HIV worldwide. The socioeconomic impact of kidney disease is huge and is anticipated to even further grow in the coming years. Awareness of the magnitude and the risks of this condition have remained low at the population level. Therefore, kidney disease has been, until recently, largely overlooked by health authorities and governments in most countries with as the result accumulation of major unmet needs in personalized medicine in kidney disease. The aim of PICKED (PersonalIzed medicine in Chronic KidnEy Disease) is to equip a generation of 10 doctoral candidates (DC) with interdisciplinary skills for the development of pathways to implement personalized medicine in chronic kidney disease and their complications on the level of its detection, progression and treatment. We anticipate that these DCs will significantly contribute to the increasing possibilities to stratify patients with kidney disease and the development of successful intervention procedures with potential to substantially impact the lives of over 10% of the European population. PICKED will realize this aim by coordinating the efforts of 10 beneficiaries and 8 associated partners across 7 European countries and 3 sectors, with lead supervisors covering a large range of disciplines ranging from biomarker-research to research into the legal, ethical and quality of life aspects for the implementation of personalized medicine in kidney disease.

System omics to unravel the gut-kidney axis in Chronic Kidney Disease: There is a great need for multi-disciplinary and methodologically well trained scientists in order to unravel complex diseases. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is more prevalent in women, and its high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) with nearly 50% of all deaths in CKD patients caused by CVD, is such a complex disease and its socio-economic burden is extremely high. STRATEGY-CKD will in this context focus on the gut-kidney axis and the role of the intestinal microbiome as important contributor to the genesis and evolution of CVD in CKD and as possible therapeutic target to improve outcome of CKD patients. For this purpose, 10 leading multidisciplinary academic and 3 industrial investigators and their teams will train young researchers in (1) excellent scientific skills, integrating technological skills [in vitro, bacterial and animals molecular and functional studies, state-of-the-art omic (cultur-, microbi, peptid-, prote-, metabolomics) approaches, bioinformatics, systems biology] in clinical/mechanistic knowledge to generate innovative insights triggering the pathogenesis and treatment of CKD related CVD; (2) Excellent complementary skills in personal and career development as well as business training required to extend beyond scientific research; and (3) exposure to both academic and non-academic environments, required to build bridges between researchers and entrepreneurs and support the future translation of research findings in innovative therapies and services. STRATEGY-CKD builds on already available advanced technology, models and patient samples, and established collaborations. STRATEGY-CKD links to ongoing European programs among partners of the consortium. STRATEGY-CKD will stimulate the development of young, broadly-trained scientists able to successfully link basic to clinical research in academia as well as in industry unravelling complex diseases such as CVD-CKD.

Recent insights revealed new, decisive roles for lipids in cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer and chronic inflammation. Lipid targeting may offer novel treatment opportunities for these four high-impact diseases, complementary to the currently available, insufficiently effective therapies. However, developing effective diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic solutions requires deeper insights into lipid metabolism in disease as well as improved methods of lipid detection and imaging. Furthermore, an increasing interest in lipids in clinical applications, demonstrated by our associated partners, generates job profiles requiring novel, lipid-focused, interdisciplinary training. LipiBRIGHT is the first lipid-focused ITN designed to address the unmet medical need to i) better understand lipid metabolism in disease and ii) train young scientists in the emerging lipids field, associated technologies and clinical applications, this to speed-up understanding of lipid-associated diseases and translation into novel strategies for disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment. LipiBRIGHT comprises 6 forefront-running, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research institutes and 2 SMEs with complementary expertise in lipid-associated diseases, technology and translation, supported by 4 academic and 1 international research institute, 3 SMEs, 4 international companies, 2 stakeholder-representing organisations and 1 international organisation of mixed academic/private members. With established cooperations, we will train doctoral students around three pillars: (i) Lipid biomarkers, artificial intelligence and disease modelling, (ii) Lipid-associated pathology & disease mechanisms, and (iii) Lipid application in clinics & industry. This will provide excellent scientific, technological and transferable skills to generate innovative insights in the opportunities of lipid research, and boost EU competitiveness in lipid research, translation and application.

Successfully combatting a complex disease requires multi-disciplinary and methodically well-trained scientists. CaReSyAn strives to accomplish exactly this: we will train scientists to successfully integrate proteomics, clinical, experimental and bioinformatical analyses to enhance the understanding, diagnosis and therapy of the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). CRS comprises disorders of the heart, vessels and kidneys, including the increased development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). With ~45% of all deaths in CKD patients caused by CVD, the socio-economic burden of CRS is extremely high. CaReSyAn will train scientists in a close cooperation between academia, SME and industry partners. Key objectives are to provide: 1) Excellent scientific training on CRS pathology, integrating clinical/mechanistic knowledge with technological skills (animals and in vitro, molecular and functional studies, proteomics and bioinformatics) to generate innovative insights triggering the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of the CRS; 2) Excellent complementary skills in personal and career development as well as business training required to extend beyond scientific research; and 3) Exposure to both academic and non-academic environments, required to build bridges between researchers and entrepreneurs and support the future translation of research findings in innovative products and services. CaReSyAn builds on already available patient cohorts, advanced technologies and established cooperations. CaReSyAn is complementary to ongoing European programs focusing solely on CKD or CVD and strives to synergistically improve structural training on European level. CaReSyAn will nurture the development of young, broadly-trained scientists able to successfully bridge clinical with basic research as well as academia and industry. This is a cornerstone in effectively combatting complex diseases as CRS, a major killer of this century.