In recent years there is mounting evidence that type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, which can be considered as a “new” long-term diabetic co-morbid complication with dramatic consequences for patients and their families and a significant impact for healthcare systems. At present there are no reported phenotypic indicators or reliable tests to identify T2D patients at risk of developing dementia. Since the retina is ontogenically a brain-derived tissue, we propose that the evaluation of retinal parameters related to either neurodegeneration or microvascular disease will be robust and valuable biomarkers to identify those T2D patients at higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. On this basis the overarching aims of the project are: 1) To investigate the common mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DR and cognitive impairment in the T2D. 2) To use the retina as a tool to identifying individuals with T2D at a higher risk of developing cognitive decline or dementia. Our multidisciplinary consortium (RECOGNISED) consist of top research leaders in the field belonging to 15 prestigious institutions as well as EATRIS, IDF-Europe and Alzheimer Europe and 3 SMEs. RECOGNISED will apply innovative approaches to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the high prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in T2D population and will use this knowledge to characterize clinical phenotypes (personalized medicine) based on retinal functional and structural characteristics and serum biomarkers in order to stratify the risk and severity of cognitive decline. Previously collected data from registries, cohorts and biobanks will be appropriately exploited and robust new data will be generated that will guide clinical recommendations and open up new therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, RECOGNISED project will help to reduce the huge societal and economic burden associated with diabetes-related cognitive impairment.

The CardioSCOPE proposal aims to bring together experts from Companies and Αcademia throughout Europe to exchange and expand their expertise on interdisciplinary approaches, to enhance the Research and Innovation capacity of Europe in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Connecting and expanding Europe-wide biobanks and expertise through a comprehensive multiomics approach for the discovery of novel pathological players, CardioSCOPE will give deeper insights into acute coronary syndrome (ACS) development and progression towards major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We will use well-defined prospective cohorts to discover and validate novel genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic signatures specific for ACS and MACE, to be combined in multimarker models by machine learning/artificial intelligence algorithms, enabling more accurate ACS diagnosis and MACE prediction. This excellent research network aims at building scientists competent for the upcoming “omics” era by training and knowledge transfer. Specific research skills not available at home institutions will be acquired through individually designed secondment plans, training schools, webinars and short-term courses. Intersectoral activities will improve entrepreneurial skills of consortium staff and facilitate transformation of scientific breakthroughs into commercially available products/services. CardioSCOPE includes experts with a wide clinical and research experience, access to patients with ACS and the expertise required for achieving set goals. World-class institutions gathered within this consortium (from 6 countries: 7 academic, 4 companies, 1 hospital) offer specific expertise, state-of-the-art equipment and adequate human resources to address these challenges. In summary, the results of this project will transcend our own scientific interests to enable a transfer of knowledge into a multidisciplinary environment and achieving significant impact on ACS management and policies in Europe.

European Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) burden is unsustainable. Better risk stratification tools and personalized care of patients are needed for reducing morbidity and mortality of CHD and the associated economic burden. To this end we have planned to shape and implement a personalized secondary prevention program for patients with established CHD. This precision strategy will be tested in a prospective trial, the CoroPrevention Trial, a central element of our proposal. We aim to significantly reduce the numbers of coronary events by using outcome risk- and patient characteristics- guided prevention in CHD patients. 1. Prospectively evaluate clinical utility of personalized prevention in CHD 2. Evaluate health economic and social benefits of the personalized prevention in CHD 3. Discover predictive markers of drug treatment response in CHD 4. Improve current ESC guidelines based on RCT validated clinical data 5. Disseminate the refined prevention program to the attention of practitioners, patients, health care payers and policy makers This program will establish a new economically sustainable personalized treatment practice applicable throughout Europe particularly to those regions where CHD prevention needs upgrading. The used protocols and technologies will carefully assessed by NICE using their standard evaluation methods that will allow independent expert opinions for different European authorities and decision makers. These opinion statements will further be supported by full Health Economics analyses of CoroPrevention Trial.