Project description
Systems medicine approach to metabolic diseases
Metabolic diseases are mostly hereditary disorders that affect the ability of the cells to perform biochemical reactions involved in the processing of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. The development of innovative therapies for a wide range of metabolic diseases requires a systems medicine (SM) approach that involves the analysis of integrated large patient data sets. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PoLiMeR project is training 15 PhD students in different aspects of SM through a network of 13 universities, small companies and university hospitals in Europe. The objectives are to educate young scientists in the computational, laboratory and clinical aspects of SM and to develop an innovative approach to inherited diseases of carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the liver.
Objective
Metabolic diseases are a burden on the European population and health care system. It is increasingly recognised that individual differences with respect to history, lifestyle, and genetic make-up affect disease progression and treatment response. A Systems Medicine approach, based on computational models fed with individual patient data, has the potential to provide the basis for a personalised diagnosis and treatment strategy. The PoLiMeR consortium (Polymers in the Liver: Metabolism and Regulation) has identified the inherited, liver-related diseases of glycogen and lipid metabolism as the ideal starting point for innovative research training in personalised ‘Systems Medicine’. Our perspective opens possibilities for the application of novel drugs and diagnostic tools to a range of both rare and frequent diseases.
To advance diagnostics and treatment of metabolic diseases beyond the state-of-the art, a new generation of scientists is needed. The complexity of the metabolic network and its aberrant behaviour in disease require experts with a deep knowledge and understanding of Systems Medicine approaches. The lack of truly interdisciplinary researchers, trained in the three ‘pillars of Systems Medicine’ - experimental, computational and clinical research - severely hampers progress in this field. PoLiMeR aims to fill this gap and brings together clinical, academic, and industrial experts on inherited metabolic diseases, computational modelling of the entire human metabolism, organ-on-chip technology, and detailed metabolic profiling. Our mission is to train our Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) to become dedicated Systems-Medicine experts, who can seamlessly collaborate between computational and wet-lab environments, and between clinical, academic, and industrial environments. This training will enable them to become the future leaders in the field and eventually make the difference for the patients.
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Programme(s)
Coordinator
9713 GZ Groningen
Netherlands
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Participants (14)
40225 Dusseldorf
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26129 Oldenburg
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2311 EZ Leiden
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100 44 Stockholm
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NR4 7UH Norwich
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79106 Freiburg
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4365 ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE
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5020 Bergen
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2342 DH Oegstgeest
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
CO4 3ZL COLCHESTER
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
69118 Heidelberg
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
H91 Galway
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6020 Innsbruck
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M13 9PL Manchester
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Partners (4)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
NR4 7TJ Norwich
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
12163 Berlin
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
Groningen
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
2333 BD Leiden
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.