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CA23142 - Delve-into-Pneumocystis MEMBERS AREA
ABOUT US
Description Delve-into-Pneumocystis
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) remains a major public health problem, especially in developing countries, with high morbidity and mortality among immunosuppressed patients, mainly in those infected with HIV, where it is the first defining cause of AIDS. In developed countries, PcP continues to be a frequent problem among subjects who do not know they are HIV infected, who do not access antiretrovirals, who do not tolerate or do not perform chemoprophylaxis, and in cases where prophylaxis fails, probably due to the development of Pneumocystis jirovecii strains with drug resistance, a phenomenon that is also emerging in a threatening way in developing countries. Furthermore, the greater aggressiveness of current chemotherapy and the more frequent use of immunosuppressants for autoimmune diseases or transplant recipients have meant that the incidence of PcP is increasing in these patients worldwide.
However, today the interest in P. jirovecii transcends immunosuppressed subjects, and increasing data suggest that we know only the tip of the iceberg of the manifestations that Pneumocystis infection can produce in humans. In this sense, primary Pneumocystis infection has been related to Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in infants and seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma.
The Action will improve prevention, management, diagnostics and treatment of patients with Pneumocystis infection by better integrating clinical knowledge and research. This will be done by developing collaborations between hospitals, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and small/medium enterprises through a structured, coordinated, and open European research network.
- Clinical medicine: Prevention and treatment of infection by pathogens (e.g. vaccination, antibiotics, fungicide)
- Medical biotechnology: Medical biotechnology, other
- Clinical medicine: Respiratory systems
- Clinical medicine: Paediatrics
Keywords: Pneumocystis COPD Asthma Infants
- Research Coordination Objectives
- To make possible multicenter research through the design and implementation of a data registry (specimens and clinical data) for children and adults.
- To promote the development and implementation of guidelines and techniques/products for Pneumocystis diagnosis and therapy through experimental and clinical validation.
- To develop research protocols that help clarify the pathogenic role of Pneumocystis in respiratory pathology in infants and chronic lung diseases in adults.
- To identify priorities for further translational research on the field of Pneumocystis infection.
- To search for opportunities for international coordinated Pneumocystis research both in the Horizon Europe programme and in other funding schemes and initiatives.
- Capacity-building
- To build a network of healthcare professionals and multi- and interdisciplinary high-quality and translational research teams.
- To provide development opportunities via cooperation between basic researchers and healthcare professionals.
- To increase the relation and cooperation with less research-development countries, who also have the highest burden of Pneumocystis pneumonia or with greater limitations for diagnosis and treatment of Pneumocystis infection.
- To ensure knowledge, skills, and expertise exchange through training activities, highlighting the role of young researchers and innovators increasing their visibility, as well as the importance of gender/sex and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) issues in Pneumocystis research and in dissemination/communication activities.
- To coordinate joint courses/workshops/meetings with other COST Actions/EU projects.
- To make Delve-into-Pneumocystis more visible in both the European and international level through specific tools to healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, nongovernmental organizations, and the general population.
The expected results and their innovative potential
Improving knowledge of the epidemiology and natural history of infection/colonization by P. jirovecii, having thus impact on treatment and prophylaxis of pulmonary colonization and on the risk of developing PcP among vulnerable people (new guidelines for clinical management).
Clarifying the real role of Pneumocystis in COPD and asthma exacerbation and improving treatment of situation where many patients are unnecessarily treated with antibiotics, increasing the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Clarifying the position of Pneumocystis into fungal asthma
Deepening in the knowledge of immunological and inflammatory response induced by P. jirovecii in patients with COPD and asthma, allowing to better understanding the pathophysiology of those diseases, improving thus our capacity for diagnosis and tailored treatment.
Clarifying whether specific anti-Pneumocystis IgG and IgM antibodies are protective against colonization or have values as biomarkers of Pneumocystis colonization.
Clarifying the impact of Pneumocystis colonization on the clinical evolution of patients with COPD and asthma, since specific treatment for Pneumocystis infection could improve the prognosis of patients with COPD and asthma who have this colonization.
Contributing to the 1+Million Genomes Initiative to generate genomic data and link it to phenotypic data in both infectious diseases (Pneumocystis infection) and common complex diseases (COPD and asthma).
Contributing to significant socio-economic benefits to Europe since personalized medicine will 10 allow efficient cost-effective prevention.
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.
CA23142 - Delve-into-Pneumocystis