Kick-Off of the Marie Skłodowska Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) CaReSyAn: EU promotes junior researcher network to Cardiorenal Syndrome Analysis with 2.8 million euros
Within the CaReSyAn network, scientists throughout Europe will work intensively together to combat cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. Members of this European Innovative Training Network (ITN) are seven research institutions and 1 SME from Germany, Greece, Austria, France, the Netherlands and Sweden. Eleven young researchers (so-called Early Stage Researcher) will be intensively trained to get an insight into the cardiorenal syndrome and contribute to scientific progress as well as the development of transferable know-how in joint research projects. Overall, the ITN CaReSyAn is funded by the European Union from 2018-2022 with a funding volume of 2.8 million euros.
The cardiorenal syndrome refers to the simultaneous dysfunction of heart and kidney, with acute or chronic dysfunction of one organ triggering the dysfunction of the other. Thus, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibit a massively increased risk of heart damage (called cardiovascular disease), with cardiovascular mortality accounting for almost half of all deaths in patients with advanced CKD (stage 4-5). With around 10% of people presenting CKD in the Western world, the socio-economic burden of the cardiorenal syndrome is extremely high. However, the mechanisms triggering the development of this disease are still highly unclear.
The European Union now promotes structured training of early-stage scientists within this field in a so-called Innovative Training Network of several European institutions. The goal is the extension of their scientific and general competencies within an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research and training program. Through this funding scientific excellence and entrepreneurial innovation are equally encouraged. Also, the career prospects of researchers will improve by developing skills in entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.
On March 22nd 2018, the CaReSyAn members have officially kicked intensive cooperation within this network during their first network meeting in Montpellier, France, organized by its associated partner, SME RD Néphrologie. With all members highly motivated, ITN CaReSyAN is now looking forward to welcome the eleven Early Stage Researchers within the next months.
Members: University Clinic Aachen, Germany; Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Greece; Mosaiques Diagnostics GmbH, Germany; Medical University Vienna, Austria; University of Montpellier, France; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, France; School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM) in Maastricht, the Netherlands; Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 764474