Combating major diseases

1
Combating major diseases Gender aspects in
research   Gender aspects in research have a
particular relevance to this theme as risk
factors, biological mechanisms, clinical,
manifestation, causes, consequences for disease
and disorders may differ in men and women.
       In the formulation of research
hypotheses, protocols and methodologies     
In biological, pre-clinical and epidemiological,
behavioural research/studies on both human and
animal subjects        In the use of cells,
tissues and other specimens        In the choice
for a particular study population  
Child Health Causes, clinical
manifestation, consequences and treatment of
disease and disorders often differ between adults
and children. Focus on differences in research
protocols, methodologies and analysis of
results. Clinical research and clinical
trials   Early phase clinical trials (Phase I
II), for orphan drugs, paediatric medicines and
new biotherapy developments Late phase clinical
trials (phase III IV) for poverty related
diseases.
2

• Combating major diseases
•  
• Application-orientated genomic approaches to
  medical knowledge and technologies
• Combating Cancer
• Confronting the major communicable diseases
  linked to poverty

3
a) Application-orientated genomic approaches to
medical knowledge and technologies To develop
improved strategies for the prevention and
management using advanced technologies for
health - of human disease and for living and
ageing healthily.   Integration of genomic
approach through all relevant organisms into
established medical approaches for investigating
disease and health determinants.   The emphasis
will be on translational research aimed at
bringing basic knowledge through to clinical
application.
4
a) Application-orientated genomic approaches to
medical knowledge and technologies ? Combating,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes and rare
diseases ? Combating resistance to antibiotics
and other drugs ? Studying the brain and
combating diseases of the nervous system ?
Studying human development and the ageing process

5
       Combating, cardiovascular disease,
diabetes and rare diseases Topics for first
call   Molecular pathogenesis of Coronary Artery
Disease (CAD) and diagnostic tools for prevention
and treatment (IP or NoE)   Novel molecular
targets for the treatment of obesity in the
context of diabetes (IP or NoE)   The role of
pancreatic ion channels in defective insulin
secretion in type 2 diabetes (IP or NoE)
  Rare disorders of mitochondria or of nuclear
organisation with broader implications for
biological processes (IP or NoE)   Genomics
of heart muscle development and disease (IP or
NoE) (NoE preferred).   Genomics of vascular
disease and atherothrombosis (IP or NoE) (NoE
preferred).   Rare disorders of plasma membrane
transporters for amino-acids, lipids and sugars -
STREP.   Aetiology, pathology and prediction of
type 1 diabetes in Europe - CA.   Network for
early clinical trials in rare diseases - CA.
  Overcoming the challenges of translational
research in cardiovascular disease - SSA.   Type
II diabetes and obesity - SSA.   Co-ordination
of rare disease research in Europe, with various
stakeholders from research, SMEs and patient
organisations SSA.
6
       Combating resistance to antibiotics and
other drugs. Topics for first call   Management
of respiratory tract infections (IP or NoE)
(NoE preferred)   Testing anti-viral drug
resistance and understanding resistance
development (IP or NoE)   Broadening the
knowledge base on the molecular mechanisms behind
resistance STREP/CA   Workshop The
structuring of European research activities to
more effectively combat drug resistant hospital
infections - SSA   Workshop Strategies to
address antimicrobial resistance through the
exploitation of microbial genomics - SSA
7
       Studying the brain and combating diseases
of the nervous system Topics for first
call   Genomics and neurobiology of bipolar
disorders (IP or NoE)   Eating disorders,
from genes to behaviour (IP or NoE)   Role and
mechanisms of protein aggregation in
neurodegenerative diseases (IP or NoE)   Rare
hereditary neurological disorders ataxias (IP
or NoE)   Molecular and cellular basis of brain
development (IP or NoE) (NoE preferred).
  Human brain tissue research (IP or NoE) (NoE
preferred).   Rare monogenic neurological
disorders STREP/CA.   Genetics and
neurobiology of pain STREP/CA.
  Schizophrenia from genotype to phenotype
STREP/CA.   Specific brain research support
actions SSA.
8
       Studying human development and the ageing
process Topics for the first call   Genetic
factors of longevity and healthy ageing (IP or
NoE)   Molecular and cellular processes
underlying the development of mesodermal organ
systems (IP or NoE) (NoE preferred).
  Molecular mechanisms of bone homeostasis
STREP.
9

• Combating Cancer
•  The objective is to combat cancer by developing
  improved patient-oriented strategies, from
  prevention to more effective and earlier
  diagnosis and better treatment with minimal side
  effects.
•  
• The research will concentrate on translating
  the knowledge being created by genomics and other
  fields of basic research into applications that
  improve clinical practice and public health.

10
b) Combating Cancer   Establishing facilities
and developing initiatives for the exploitation
of research on cancer in Europe Supporting
clinical research, particularly clinical trials,
aimed at validating new and improved
interventions. Supporting translational research
aimed at bringing basic knowledge through to
applications in clinical practice and public
health. Other issues related to cancer, such as
ageing and cancer, regional differences,
psycho-social aspects, palliative care and
guidance to support groups.
11
b) Combating Cancer Topics for first
call   Translating basic knowledge of functional
oncogenomics into cancer diagnosis and treatment
(IP or NoE)   Multidisciplinary research to
explore and validate molecular targets for
innovative treatment (IP or NoE)   Networking
for treatment and/or prevention clinical trials
(phase I and II) aimed at improving clinical
practice in the light of new molecular knowledge
(IP or NoE) (NoE preferred).   Innovative
research in radiation therapy (IP or NoE)
  Molecular imaging for early detection of
tumours and monitoring of treatment (IP or NoE)
  Networking of quality controlled cancer
registries and repositories for molecular
epidemiology and quality assessment (IP or NoE)
(NoE preferred).   Molecular mechanisms
involved in organ-specific metastatic growth
processes in breast cancer STREP/CA.
  Translational research on promising predictive
and prognostic markers STREP/CA.   Molecular
mechanisms of cancer-related pain STREP/CA.
  Workshop on correlative laboratory studies
relevant to therapeutic clinical studies - SSA
12
c) Confronting the major communicable diseases
linked to poverty HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis development of effective disease
interventions, particularly for use in developing
countries   From basic molecular research, taking
advantage of microbial genomics, through to
pre-clinical testing   Establishing a clinical
trials programme to unite and support Europes
clinical trials activities specifically targeted
at interventions for use in developing countries
(EDCTP)
13

• c) Confronting the major communicable diseases
  linked to poverty
• Developing new promising candidate vaccines,
  therapies and microbicides
• ? Establishing a clinical trials programme

14
c) Confronting the major communicable diseases
linked to poverty Topics for first
call          Developing new promising
candidate vaccines, therapies and
microbicides   Tuberculosis vaccine development
(IP or NoE)   Biology and pathology of the
malaria parasite (IP or NoE) (NoE preferred).
  Development of an HIV vaccine (IP or NoE)
  HIV microbicides (IP or NoE)   Development
of mucosal vaccines for poverty-related diseases
(IP or NoE)          Establishing a clinical
trials programme   European and Developing
Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) to
support phase II and phase III clinical trials of
promising candidates in developing countries.