Periodic Reporting for period 2 - INTEGROMED (Integration of knowledge and biobank resources in comprehensive translational approach for personalized prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders)
Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2023-03-31
Understanding and combating complex diseases and the introduction of precision medicine is a difficult task that requires an integrated approach involving the use of well-defined study cohorts, use of proper clinical information and variable research methods, as well as proper action to translate the obtained knowledge for clinical use. Complex approaches involving omics-based (e.g. genomics, epigenomics, microbiome-based metagenomics, and metabolomics) are needed, complemented by a systematic use of good quality biological material and phenotypic data.
INTEGROMED project aims to increase the excellence of LBMC in research and innovation in the field of translational medicine using omics-based approaches targeted at metabolic disorders by capitalizing on knowledge transfer from three internationally renowned partners in the field of medical research - University of Dundee, Lund University, and Weizmann Institute of Science. INTEGROMED will develop a sustainable approach targeting virtually all aspects of translational medicine including the optimal use of clinical and biobank resources, integration of different omics in systemic workflow, reaching development of bedside applications, and fostering entrepreneurial.
INTEGROMED objectives are:
1) Improve and optimize the use of resources provided by large biobanks and prospective cohorts in combination with the national health care system, improve knowledge in the establishment of clinical studies for the development of precision medicine approaches.
2) Strengthen collaboration-based training of specialists in areas of multi-omics approaches, bioinformatics, and modeling to increase excellence in implementing cutting edge
multi-omics technologies in such areas as genomics, methylation, and expression profile, microbiome, and metabolome analysis.
3) Elaborate a long-term strategy and sustainability plan involving all relevant stakeholders, ensure development and training in clinical applications, and entrepreneurial skills to build an innovation ecosystem around LBMC.
INTEGROMED project aims to increase the excellence of LBMC in research and innovation in the field of translational medicine using omics-based approaches targeted at metabolic disorders by capitalizing on knowledge transfer from three internationally renowned partners in the field of medical research - University of Dundee, Lund University, and Weizmann Institute of Science. INTEGROMED will develop a sustainable approach targeting virtually all aspects of translational medicine including the optimal use of clinical and biobank resources, integration of different omics in systemic workflow, reaching development of bedside applications, and fostering entrepreneurial.
INTEGROMED objectives are:
1) Improve and optimize the use of resources provided by large biobanks and prospective cohorts in combination with the national health care system, improve knowledge in the establishment of clinical studies for the development of precision medicine approaches.
2) Strengthen collaboration-based training of specialists in areas of multi-omics approaches, bioinformatics, and modeling to increase excellence in implementing cutting edge
multi-omics technologies in such areas as genomics, methylation, and expression profile, microbiome, and metabolome analysis.
3) Elaborate a long-term strategy and sustainability plan involving all relevant stakeholders, ensure development and training in clinical applications, and entrepreneurial skills to build an innovation ecosystem around LBMC.
Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (LBMC) during the whole period of INTEGROMED implementation has fully reached the main objectives of the project. Based on the exchange visit to the University of Dundee, online consultations and information gathered from the summer school we have developed the Guidelines for the maintenance of an efficient biobank, health register and research-associated data management and prepared recommendations for LBMC and other researchers on design creation and conducting of academic clinical trials. These documents and established collaborations with advanced partners have promoted accessibility and reusability of data connected with the Genome Database of Latvian population (LGDB) sample collections. We've discussed many of the existing problems in medical data management in LBMC and Latvia in general between consortium members, performed crucial tasks for data digitalization, and made steps to improve this field at the national level. One of the main expected results of INTEGROMED is to raise the expertise of the Bioinformatics core facility ensuring the sustainability and availability of this expertise to other LBMC groups. Exchange visit to Weizmann Institute and joined summer schools under this objective have helped to improve the researcher’s skills for the analysis of metagenome data in the context of improved taxonomical and functional analysis. The main achievements are the developed set of approaches and tools that have been benchmarked and provided as the optimal workflows for involved researchers and fellow students. Transfer of knowledge during hands-on visits and collaborative projects with Lund University in the field of epigenetics is another important achievement of INTEGROMED. To ensure the proper knowledge transfer and clearly set up sustainability elements to sustain the project achievements in the long term we developed the knowledge transfer and sustainability plan and training strategy for improving the business skills of young researchers in order to prepare prospective entrepreneurs and promote the creation of innovative start-ups. Multiple education, dissemination and training events attracted many researchers students and the general public to fulfil this objective of INTEGROMED. Well, organised dissemination of all INTEGROMED activities was the key emphasis of the project. All events were translated online, many of them were interactive and reached a much larger audience than expected. Special attention was paid to involving different stakeholders, especially from the government including the Ministries of Health and Economics.
INETGROMED project supported priorities of the Latvian Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) impacting and strengthening research, development of technology and innovation. Significant progress beyond the state of the art was reached by improving the legislation related to the use of medical data for research, strengthening the existing networks of researchers, and clinicians, as well as promoting entrepreneurship and increasing awareness of researchers for existing support mechanisms in start-up establishment. We have increased our capability in designing and performing clinical trials and use of medical data. Here the best achievement of the INTEGROMED research groups with wider impact is the initiation of Latvia’s national workgroup for the development of a regulatory framework for secondary medical data usage that has resulted in new Law that is under consideration in the Parliament. The major impact of INTEGROMED is the establishment of a clear vision toward the development of the infrastructure for clinical trials and use of medical data. We have submitted a grant application under HE Teaming for Excellence call to establish One Health Integration Centre (OHIC) that will provide tools for its integration into health care to ensure efficient public health management. INTEGROMED has greatly facilitated the development of the bioinformatics field at the National level by establishing the Latvian Bioinformatics Forum which involves virtually all Latvian bioinformaticians. With the involvement of INTEGROMED scientists, the new study courses with the aim to create a Bioinformatics Study program at the University of Latvia have been established greatly facilitating systematic education in bioinformatics. To promote the entrepreneurship and increase awareness of researchers for existing support mechanisms in start-up establishment LBMC implemented the grant „Dynamic human microbiome data platform and interpretation tool for personalized health recommendations” and established a spin-off “BioAdvice” with the aim to provide interpretations of genetic and microbiome based analysis for individuals and companies. The best example indicating early achievements in the goal of strengthening the existing networks of the researchers, clinicians, and health care systems, is participation in the COVID-19 research framework where LBMC led the establishment of a collaborative network not only among academic institutions but also ensured SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing effort in Latvia working together with national Disease Control and Prevention Centre and Infectiology Reference laboratory. Overall the contribution of INTEGROMED to the expected impacts is highly relevant and exceeds the expectation of the initial plan.