Lipids as promising BRidge between novel disease InsiGHts and improved Therapy

forthcoming

Recent insights revealed new, decisive roles for lipids in cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer and chronic inflammation. Lipid targeting may offer novel treatment opportunities for these four high-impact diseases, complementary to the currently available, insufficiently effective therapies. However, developing effective diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic solutions requires deeper insights into lipid metabolism in disease as well as improved methods of lipid detection and imaging. Furthermore, an increasing interest in lipids in clinical applications, demonstrated by our associated partners, generates job profiles requiring novel, lipid-focused, interdisciplinary training. LipidBRIGHT is the first lipid-focused ITN designed to address the unmet medical need to i) better understand lipid metabolism in disease and ii) train young scientists in the emerging lipids field, associated technologies and clinical applications, this to speed-up understanding of lipid-associated diseases and translation into novel strategies for disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment. LipidBRIGHT comprises 6 forefront-running, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research institutes and 2 SMEs with complementary expertise in lipid-associated diseases, technology and translation, supported by 4 academic and 1 international research institute, 3 SMEs, 4 international companies, 2 stakeholder-representing organisations and 1 international organisation of mixed academic/private members. With established cooperations, we will train doctoral students around three pillars: (i) Lipid biomarkers, artificial intelligence and disease modelling, (ii) Lipid-associated pathology & disease mechanisms, and (iii) Lipid application in clinics & industry. This will provide excellent scientific, technological and transferable skills to generate innovative insights in the opportunities of lipid research, and boost EU competitiveness in lipid research, translation and application.