Project: Proteome analysis for the management of coronary artery disease

Acronym	PROACT (Reference Number: 5. JTC-2017_46)
Project Topic	Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Although current diagnostic and therapeutic tools have significantly improved its management, the prevalence of CAD is still on the rise due to demographic transition and increased survival rates. The socio-economic burden of CAD is thus obvious and innovative methods that will improve its management are urgently needed. In this project, we will focus on two core aims: i) Early biomarkers and mechanisms of CAD. We will validate on a large-scale previously identified urinary peptidome-based classifiers allowing early detection of CAD using a standardised laboratory tool in two European cohorts of over 5000 patients. The classifiers combined with tissue proteomics will be used to extrapolate early CAD-mechanisms in human tissues. ii) The investigation of plaque instability mechanisms. Using a novel tandem stenosis (TS) mouse model displaying the full stages of atherosclerosis progression of human plaque pathology developed by the associate partner (BAK), plaque proteome analysis and systems biology analysis, we will determine novel therapeutic targets to stabilise the plaque and initially validate those in the TS model. To improve the translational character, these targets will be subsequently validated in human tissues. PROACT will on one hand use cutting-edge technologies to detect, non-invasively, the risk of developing CAD and on the other hand via an innovative systems biology approach provide potential therapeutic targets to treat plaque instability.
Network	ERA-CVD
Call	Joint Transnational Call for Proposals 2017: Mechanisms of early atherosclerosis and/or plaque instability in Coronary Artery Disease

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	University of Leuven	Coordinator	Belgium
2	mosaiques diagnostics GmbH	Partner	Germany
3	Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases - I2MC	Partner	France