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MICROBiome-based biomarkers to PREDICT decompensation of liver cirrhosis and treatment response

Project description

Identification of microbiome-based biomarkers for end-stage liver disease

The end stage of liver disease is decompensated cirrhosis and progression towards acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which presents with systemic inflammation and organ failure and has a dismal prognosis. Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiome is implicated in liver cirrhosis, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. MICROB-PREDICT is a programme of excellence funded by the EU that aims to investigate the role of the microbiome in the gut–liver interaction. Researchers will also identify microbiome-based biomarkers associated with end-stage liver disease and generate data from large patient cohorts. Collectively, this information will enable accurate patient stratification and pave the way for personalised therapies.

Objective

Decompensation of liver cirrhosis and progression towards acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) causes 1.2 million deaths/year. Microbiome is causally involved in cirrhosis progression and is for drugs the first interaction point with the patients. Drugs can alter the microbiome leading to unwanted effects or even facilitating their effects, but the microbiome metabolizes the drugs, shapes their effects and possibly determines the host response to drugs. As each person carries an individual microbiome, insight in these processes should help stratify or even personalize patient health care and treatment.
The aims of MICROB-PREDICT are 1) to better understand the role of microbiome and the gut-liver-axis interactome with respect to microbiome functionalities, 2) to identify and validate microbiome-based biomarkers and signatures for personalized prediction of decompensation and ACLF, and response to treatment, 3) to design three new tests as easy-to-use tools and point-of-care, smartphone-connected nanobiosensors, and 4) to validate them in a randomized controlled trial. MICROB-PREDICT will assemble existing data and samples from major microbiome initiatives in hepatology (12 international studies, >10,000 patients), and enrich them with holistic and in-depth analysis using cutting-edge multi-omics technologies of host and microbiome from different body sites in samples of >1,000 patients collected in a longitudinal manner with sequential visits and controlling for confounders.
MICROB-PREDICT results will foster more accurate, personalized risk stratification and significant steps towards personalized treatment of decompensated cirrhosis and ACLF. World-leading microbiome specialists, technology leaders and clinical experts make this a programme of scientific excellence; patient organisations (ELPA) and the European Association for the study of the Liver (EASL) will channel our results into a powerful dissemination, communication and exploitation programme.

Call for proposal

H2020-SC1-BHC-2018-2020

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SC1-2018-Single-Stage-RTD

Coordinator

EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR THE STUDY OF CHRONIC LIVER FAILURE (EF-CLIF)
Net EU contribution
€ 2 283 191,11
Address
TRAVESSERA DE GRACIA 11, 7TH FLOOR
08021 Barcelona
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 2 283 191,11

Participants (23)