Work Package 1 & 2 - Vascular & Endocrine Pathways
WP 1 – An integrated set of pre-clinical and clinical projects showed that chronic low-grade inflammation, metabolic stressors (lipids, methyl-glyoxal) and cellular senescence jointly impair micro- and macro-vascular function in hypertension. Novel imaging metrics and a prototype decision-support algorithm translate these findings into improved risk stratification, while cross-project network analysis revealed shared mechanistic nodes that guided further experimentation. All nine deliverables were completed, with only beneficial scope additions (e.g. diabetes co-models).
WP 2 – Work centred on renin–angiotensin–aldosterone-system dysregulation, uncovering a chromosome-9 miRNA/AOPEP locus, CASZ1–MR signalling, sexually dimorphic adrenal remodelling, and mitochondria-driven Ca²⁺ oscillations as key drivers of aldosterone excess. Adjacent studies showed macrolides exert NO-dependent vasoprotection, PVAT’s early anti-stiffness effect in CKD, and palmitoylation-enhanced NOX5 ROS output. These strands feed into a multi-scale model linking endocrine, oxidative and adipose cues to vascular damage, with no critical deviations from plan.
Work Package 3 - Complementary Training
All basic and advanced network-wide courses were delivered on schedule, giving every ESR the agreed portfolio of scientific-method and transferable-skills training.
Every ESR also completed at least one inter-sector or inter-academic secondment.
The Recess College–led Development Track ran its full sequence of workshops and small-group sessions.
Outputs from these activities, together with updated career plans and formal evidence, in each ESR’s ESR-FOLIO.
Finally, on 12 December 2024 all ESRs were awarded accreditation in “Partnership Working in Science Networks,” confirming that WP3’s training and leadership objectives were fully achieved.
Work Package 4 - Selection & Management
Recruitment and selection, and overall coordination, including risk and contingency management have been achieved. Mid-term check issues have been successfully addressed and no major risks have materialized. Due to unexpected health issue and related project delay, MINDSHIFT got a 3-month extension.
Work Package 5 - Dissemination & Professional Ethics
WP 5 met all its dissemination, exploitation and ethics objectives. A robust outreach infrastructure — website, Twitter, and an ESR-run LinkedIn page that grew organically to 200 followers — supported year-round public-engagement actions such as World Hypertension Day, school science sessions, etc.
Working with industry partners, WP5 delivered exploitation plans and all eleven scheduled deliverables (D5.1-D5.11) on time, the sole change being cancellation of a Bioscientifica special issue when that partner’s leadership changed. Ethics self-assessment, a FAIR-aligned Data Management Plan and end-project policy-feedback reviews confirmed full regulatory compliance and captured best-practice lessons for future European doctoral networks.
