Spain, 22 November 2024 – A significant European Union (EU) grant has been awarded to train a new generation of scientists focused on combating asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Affecting millions globally, these chronic respiratory diseases are leading causes of disability and death. This project unites top European research institutions and industry leaders to pioneer innovative approaches to understanding, treating, and ultimately preventing these debilitating conditions.
Funded by the European Union under the HORIZON Marie Curie Doctoral Networks programme, Project: 101169403 — RESPIRE-EXCEL, is dedicated to advancing early-stage researchers’ expertise in asthma and COPD. This training program will equip them with cutting-edge skills and access to state-of-the-art technologies.
One of the project's key participants is Omniscope, a leader in immune system analytics. Omniscope’s proprietary technology will be instrumental in analyzing T cell receptor (TCR) and B cell receptor (BCR) repertoires of circulating adaptive immune cells in asthma and COPD patients. This immune data will enable the identification of specific biomarkers linked to disease activity and patient endotypes, facilitating personalized approaches to treatment for those suffering from these respiratory diseases.
"Omniscope technologies to deeply read the immune system will allow personalizing patient monitoring and treatment decisions for asthma and COPD patients", says Prof. Dr. Holger Heyn, co-founder and CSO of Omniscope. "Importantly, the immune profiling is performed from blood samples, enabling real-time liquid biopsy-based monitoring."
Prof. Martijn Nawijn, Project Coordinator and Professor at the University Medical Center Groningen, emphasized the importance of this work: “Our vision is to transform generic treatment methods into precision medicine for asthma and COPD patients. Omniscope’s involvement will be invaluable in bridging immune profiling technology with the mission to personalize treatment, as we train the next generation of scientists with the skills and insights needed to tackle the complexities of these diseases.”
The program includes the appointment of doctoral candidates who will work across academic and industrial settings, fostering a unique environment that bridges the gap between research and clinical application. Omniscope will host a doctoral candidate and facilitate secondments, providing these young scientists with direct exposure to its advanced immune profiling technology.
This initiative is a part of a broaderEuropean commitment to tackling the increasing burden of respiratory diseases by empowering the next generation of scientists to leverage leading-edge scientific advancements.
About Omniscope
Omniscope is building the world’s largest Immune Databank to bring healthcare to everyone, everywhere, by unlocking the full potential of immune data.Through proprietary wet lab and AI technology, Omniscope generates high-resolution immune insights at an unprecedented scale, empowering scientists and healthcare providers to uncover complex patterns and predict immune responses with precision. Our mission is to drive breakthroughs in personalized medicine and set a new standard in immune health.
*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
