GENIUS II

2018

The GENIUS II (Generating Evidence-Based Pharmaceutical Targets and Drugs for Atherosclerosis) consortium is dedicated to studying atherosclerosis, the primary pathological condition underlying cardiovascular diseases. The consortium aims to translate identified druggable targets for atherosclerosis intervention into clinical applications. Gender specificity is a key consideration in all our studies. Our consortium's talent program is structured to provide young researchers with insights into the opportunities and challenges of cardiovascular drug development.

The Research
GENIUS II research integrates knowledge of dyslipidemia and associated immune responses. Our work is organized into distinct work packages that correspond to the logical steps in drug development. Each selected target from GENIUS I is strategically incorporated into this framework. Our investigations encompass in vitro and in vivo analyses to understand mechanisms, druggability, and effects on atherosclerosis.

In addition to building upon GENIUS I drug targets and leads, we leverage recent innovative advancements to identify new druggable targets within male and female atherosclerotic lesions, as well as in circulating cells. State-of-the-art molecular biology techniques, including single cell sequencing and immunophenotyping, are actively employed to dissect immunometabolic processes within atherosclerotic plaques and patients. These studies will enable us to monitor the presence of drug targets at disease sites, expediting drug design and potentially identifying gender-specific biomarkers to aid disease progression monitoring and diagnosis.

Subsequent studies involve testing the efficacy of small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, and siRNA against pre-selected targets from GENIUS I. We have identified small molecules and monoclonal antibodies for five targets, which will undergo toxicity and proof-of-pharmacology studies to progress towards drug development for cardiovascular patients. We have also identified three drugs affecting primary targets from GENIUS I and are assessing their potential to reduce atherosclerotic parameters in First-In-Human clinical trials.

Origin
This consortium was funded through the Impulse Grant program by the Dutch Heart Foundation. The GENIUS II consortium builds on the most promising targets identified in the GENIUS I consortium, with the goal of advancing these targets towards clinical application.

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ADMINISTER II

2024
Heart failure is an escalating global health challenge, affecting over 64 million people worldwide. Despite advancements in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) that significantly reduce mortality and hospitalizations, many patients still do not receive optimal medication regimens or dosages. This gap in care highlights the need for innovative, collaborative approaches to improve treatment delivery and outcomes. The research The ADMINISTER I study demonstrated the potential of digital care solutions to enhance medication prescription accuracy and accelerate the time required to achieve GDMT. In real-world clinical practice, optimizing medications to meet GDMT standards is a complex and time-intensive process. It requires frequent monitoring, adjustments, and multiple visits to healthcare providers, posing a significant burden on both patients and clinicians. Building on this foundation, the ADMINISTER II consortium is a collaborative effort uniting multiple stakeholders, including healthcare providers, researchers, and (biomedical) engineers. This consortium aims to evaluate the impact of a cutting-edge digital care intervention designed to streamline medication optimization. By leveraging a robust remote monitoring infrastructure, this approach seeks to make the process more efficient, scalable, and accessible, while focusing on improving critical clinical outcomes. This collaborative digital intervention represents a transformative step toward patient care and offers hope for better heart failure management. Insights from ADMINISTER II could pave the way for the widespread adoption of innovative, integrated solutions, benefiting patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems worldwide. The ADMINISTER II consortium brings together the expertise of a leading Technical University, major referral hospitals, and a renowned academic center to deliver state-of-the-art digital care across a large nationwide hospital network. This unique synergy is pivotal to achieving the ambitious goals set by the Dutch Cardiovascular Alliance (DCVA): a 25% reduction in the cardiovascular burden by 2030. By integrating cutting-edge digital infrastructure with clinical excellence, the consortium aims to significantly lower hospitalizations and mortality rates. This partnership not only accelerates the adoption of innovative digital solutions but also ensures their effective implementation in diverse healthcare settings, marking a critical step toward transforming cardiovascular care on a national scale. The origin The ADMINISTER II is created after successful completion of the ADMINISTER I trial. The ADMINISTER I was fully funded by Amsterdam UMC and was a collaboration with Netherlands heart institute, UMC Utrecht, Rode Kruis hospital and CCN. The ADMINISTER II consortium will be on a larger scale; with a larger network and multiple funders.
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IN CONTROL II

2019
The IN-CONTROL II consortium builds upon the success of IN-CONTROL I, which highlighted the pivotal role of the microbiome in low-grade inflammation associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and related risk factors such as lipid levels and microbiome-derived metabolites. These insights are crucial for addressing the rising rates of CVD-related mortality, particularly in aging and overweight populations. The Focus The objectives of IN-CONTROL II are to: Investigate the mechanisms underlying trained immunity in CVD patients, considering factors like senescence, age, sex, and obesity. Elucidate the interactions between microbiome-derived signals (aromatic amino acids, metabolites, bile acids) and immune senescence in obesity-related cardio-metabolic diseases. Identify novel therapeutic targets and develop pharmacological and microbiome-based therapies to counteract inappropriate induction of trained immunity and inflammation in cardiovascular disease. The Research The consortium aims to shift from association to causality, from population-based cohorts to patient groups with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and from observation to intervention. In this transition, it will also take advantage of recent developments in the network of the consortium, delineating cellular senescence as a druggable target for the broad spectrum of age-related chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, and identification of components of the bile acid-signaling system for this purpose. Another recent development of the recognition of innate immune memory (‘trained immunity’) as pathophysiological mechanism in atherosclerotic CVD. The consortium will conduct proof-of-principle trials in specific patient cohorts, employing advanced experimental techniques such as systems biology, single cell sequencing, innovative animal models, and metabolic flux quantification (fluxomics). A talent program will facilitate knowledge transfer and skill development for young researchers within the consortium, emphasizing rapid translation of research findings into clinical applications. Origin This consortium was funded through the Impulse Grant program by the Dutch Heart Foundation.
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