Working
Groups
This Action will bring together Chronic GvHD (cGvHD) researchers across Europe for the first time, creating a network of cross-disciplinary experts in the field.
Working Group 2
Biomarkers
Lead
Magdalena Grce
Country
Croatia
grce@irb.hr
Vice Lead
Robert Zeiser
Country
Germany
robert.zeiser@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Overview
This Working Group will assess the type and amount of biomarker information which is currently available in the literature and assess those which are worthy of further validation and study.
Objective
Identification of molecular and cellular cGvHD biomarker panels based on surveys of research findings and development of future research strategies to advance this panel.
Task 1
To survey European research centres on existing data on potential biomarkers of cGvHD (immunogenetics, genomics, proteomics, and cellular subpopulations of the immune system) and assess whether the data can be included in existing databases. Via bioinformatics approaches develop meta-analysis of collected data.
Task 2
To organise two biomarker group meetings per year in addition to monthly teleconferences to discuss and analyse the existing data on biomarkers for laboratory and clinical diagnosis of cGvHD.
Task 3
Organize two Training School, the first on future strategies to identify new biomarkers by unbiased high throughput technologies, including, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), expression profiling, proteomics, and multidimensional immuno-phenotyping in large European cohorts. Organize a second Training School on “Novel biomarkers for cGvHD”. Both open to ECIs including medical doctors in specialist training and including follow on STSMs to leading European institutions.
Task 4
Development of a set of Documents to supply a tool for validation of both, biomarkers and cellular subpopulations, for monitoring of immune reconstitution post haematopoietic stem cell. transplantation.
Milestones
Survey data on existing cGvHD biomarkers and cellular subpopulations Report -Develop a personalised approach to cGvHD therapy and the basis of a European Strategy paper
Deliverables
Guidelines/Report for usage of biomarkers in cGvHD diagnosis and early treatment regimens Documentation and delivery of two Training School including future strategies and 6 Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) Two Training Schools on “omics research” including genomics, lipidomics and proteomics and bioinformatics in cGvHD research”, and “Training School for translational research in cGvHD including cellular therapies”. The training will be available across the WG’s and network but also accessible to ECIs outside of the network.
Get involved with this Working Group
If you wish to join this Working Group, please email admin.cost17138@ncl.ac.uk or one of the leads.
Other working groups
Epidemiology
The development of an epidemiological platform on cGvHD within EUROGRAFT is a novel approach tounderstanding the disease incidence and associated comorbidities. Results of the analysis will enablea deeper understanding of the incidence of the disease and enable additional data to be included in current European wide databases for use in future clinical trials.
Socioeconomics/Quality of life
CGvHD is a long term complex disease which has several co-morbidities and as such impacts on the quality of life of patients. By studying the societal impact of the disease via documented quality of life assessments, including reduced working days due to hospital stays, EUROGRAFT will allow an improved assessment of the burden on society of cGvHD at both the individual and European level.
NIH Consensus
The NIH consensus criteria needs to be implemented uniformly if diagnosis and treatment of
cGVHD is to be optimized. The aim of this Working Group will be to aid in both the understanding and
implementation of the NIH Consensus via Training Schools and workshops.
See Also
Find out more about the Action by exploring the site links on the right hand side.
