Objective
Anaemia is the most common pathological condition affecting 1.6 billion individuals worldwide. It thus presents a serious health care problem and an economic burden. Reduction in red blood cell (RBC) number can be caused by blood loss, diet, stress conditions including endurance sport, and pathologies which are caused by primary genetic aberrations or are secondary to the malfunction of other cell types. Transfusion of RBC, which is often the only cure for severe cases of anaemia, is associated with risks such as thrombosis and transfusion reactions due to allo-immunisation. There is an unmet need to improve treatment of anaemia through early and accurate diagnosis, targeted treatment, and increased safety and effectiveness of RBC transfusion. The aim of RELEVANCE is to improve fast and cost-effective diagnosis of the underlying cause of primary anaemia, and to improve treatment options for both general and personalised medicine. We defined five key objectives: (1) to improve diagnostics of anaemia, particularly for hereditary rare forms of anaemia (RA); (2) to find novel treatments for anaemia that target RBC production, ageing and clearance; (3) to reduce premature loss of RBC following transfusion; (4) to produce cultured RBC for transfusion; (5) to monitor and optimise RBC function during sport and exercise. RELEVANCE will train 15 early stage researchers (ESR) at four SMEs and eight academic partners, two of whom are at blood supply centres and two are diagnostic centres for RA. The continuous interactions between the clinic, blood supply centers, basic research, and industry will select for the most relevant unmet medical needs, and will stimulate innovative procedures that are immediately probed for applicability and validity both in a research and a clinical setting. RELEVANCE will organize three open access summer schools, extending training beyond the ESR of the ITN sustaining the critical number of young talented professionals in the field.
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineangiologyvascular diseases
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugs
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespersonalized medicine
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinehematology
Keywords
Programme(s)
Coordinator
8006 Zurich
Switzerland
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Participants (13)
66123 Saarbrucken
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BS8 1QU Bristol
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27100 Pavia
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1006 AN Amsterdam
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3584 CX Utrecht
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Participation ended
08036 Barcelona
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75654 Paris
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75794 Paris
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85716 UNTERSCHLEISSHEIM
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
TS10 5SQ REDCAR
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
80339 Munchen
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
2000 Frederiksberg
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
08916 Badalona
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Partners (2)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
Homburg
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
66386 St Ingbert
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.