The research projects funded by ABM in the procedure are intended to facilitate the development of new standards for treatment, diagnostics, rehabilitation or disease prevention, as well as to promote the awareness of clinically and cost optimized therapies. 76 applications were received in the second round of the procedure, of which 70 were sent to professional assessment, and 19 of them were finally listed as projects recommended for funding. The total amount of funding is PLN 241,299,293.74. Our University will receive PLN 33,898,558.53. We will execute three projects by ourselves and one as a consortium with Warsaw Genomics SA.
Early supplementation in cow milk allergy prevention in breastfed infants
Determination whether early supplementation with various nutritional interventions, such as modified cow milk, amino acid formula, breast milk from a milk bank, or breast milk after pascalization, can be a successful strategy for first prevention of cow milk protein allergies in breastfed infants, and it is the subject-matter of a project by Andrea Horvath, MD-PhD hab., from UCK WUM Clinical Department of Pediatrics. The project was highly appreciated, scored at 150 points, and received PLN 22,077,864.75 in funding. The full title of the project is “Early supplementation in cow milk allergy prevention in breastfed infants: randomized trial - medical experiment.”
Allergy to cow milk protein is among the most common allergies diagnosed in infants and toddlers. As stated in the project application, the current recommendations for early introduction of cow milk proteins in infants that cannot be breastfed are inconsistent due to lack of unanimous research data. This knowledge gap points to the need for further research in order to ultimately determine the relationship between early exposure to cow milk proteins and the development of CMPA, so that an evidence-based CMPA prevention strategy can be developed. Successful CMPA prevention will not only significantly improve the health but also the quality of life for patients affected by the allergy and for their families.
PET/CT inflammation process diagnostics
“PET/CT diagnostics of inflammation processes involving the use of [18F]FDG and [18F]the subject’s own leukocytes” is another WUM project with a score of 150 and funding assigned in the amount of PLN 3,936,988.36. The lead researcher is prof. Leszek Królicki from UCK WUM Department of Nuclear Medicine. The purpose of the project is to improve prognosis, to reduce mortality and to optimize the procedures used in patients with cardio-vascular device implantation surgery complications.
As stated in the project application, the number of implantation procedures involving vascular prosthetic devices, prosthetic heart valves, artificial cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators has noticeably increased in the recent years, along with observable gradual extension of the range of indications for these procedures. Periimplant inflammation processes are a clinically meaningful complication of such procedures. The key issue faced by clinical practitioners is the differentiation of infection-related and sterile inflammation. Due to the low performance rates of preventative antibiotic treatments, a diagnostic method needs to be developed for differentiating the causes of complications in patients after implant procedures. Various imaging techniques are used in diagnostics of inflammation processes, yet the nuclear medicine methods offer much earlier diagnosis of pathological changes with greater specificity. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) exam using Fluorine-18 [18F]FDG - fluorodeoxyglucose (analog of glucose) is characterized by high sensitivity yet low specificity. The authors believe that the administration of [18F]Leukocytes could significantly improve the specificity of the exam, which will consequently shorten the diagnostic process and improve its effects.
Reduction of blood loss in high risk of massive blood loss during a liver transplant
A project entitled “Prospective randomized trial to assess the effects of portal venous pressure modulation during the pre-operative period in patients with a high risk of massive blood loss during a liver transplant” received 148 points and funding at PLN 3,498,741.60. The lead researcher is Dr. Wacław Hołówko from UCK WUM General Surgery, Transplantation Surgery and Liver Surgery Institute and Clinical Department. The purpose of the trial is to directly compare the performance of two different portal venous pressure (PVP) modulation methods in the context of massive blood loss risk during a liver transplant.
The study hypothesis is that more efficient transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) production may significantly reduce blood loss and the need for transfusion of blood preparations in patients with high risk of massive blood loss. If the hypothesis is confirmed, it will improve the early results of liver transplantation treatment. An added advantage is lower use of blood preparations which can be retained for treating other patients. The project duration is scheduled at 6 full years. Patients will be observed during the period from registration in the waiting list to 90 days after the liver transplant.
The impact of “liquid biopsy” on treatment strategies and survival of patients after liver resection or transplantation for reason of cancer metastases
“Prospective randomized study experiment to assess the impact of ctDNA exam in in patients after liver resection or transplantation for reason of colon cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on treatment strategies and long-term survival” is a project by Oskar Kornasiewicz from UCK WUM General Surgery, Transplantation Surgery and Liver Surgery Institute and Clinical Department. WUM is the project leader, with WARSAW GENOMICS S.A. as partner. The project received funding of PLN 4,384,963.82. The researchers present a hypothesis that the use of ctDNA will facilitate identification of early progression of the disease or single out patients with the highest risk of relapse.
As stated in the project application, “liquid biopsy” is a collective description for analysis of biomarkers of cancer origin, isolated from biological liquids of cancer patients. Analysis of these blood components can be used for early diagnosis of cancer, assessment of progression, prognosis, monitoring of drug resistance, and monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD). Yet there are no studies which would give an unambiguous answer to the question whether testing for ctDNA level in patients’ serum may be relevant to the assessment of relapse disease progression, or to the type of treatment used and survival rate improvement. If the study hypothesis is confirmed, the use of ctDNA will facilitate identification of early progression of the disease or single out patients with the highest risk of relapse. In addition, it will improve patient supervision and enable possible modification of treatment in patients with stage IV colon cancer or patients after liver resection or transplantation for reason of HCC.
For a full list, go to Medical Research Agency (ABM) website