HOMAGE is a 6-year European research network (Collaborative Project) supported by the European Commission under the Health Cooperation Work Programme of the 7th Framework Programme, under the Grant Agreement n°305507
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Research program
HOMAGE is a translational project, which aims to fill the therapeutical void by delivering clinically relevant and industrially applicable clinically validated – ‘omics based’ BMs that will quantify pathological activity in disease pathways that may lead to HF enabling early detection of risk and effective and efficient targeting of treatments at groups of patients that will have the largest net gain.
Strategy and area of focus
Therefore the work plan of HOMAGE is based on 7 key elements
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The integration of a consortium-wide database from existing and readily accessible cohorts of older adults at risk of developing HF, associated co-morbidities and corresponding controls.
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Focus on a range of carefully selected ‘omics based BMs that cover the main underlying mechanisms of HF and are related to known co-morbidities in the elderly. The selection is based on hypotheses driven methods.
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The integration of a consortium-wide biobank of existing and readily accessible bio-samples, with common quality standards, bio-informatics analyses and modelling performed by expert academic groups and using cutting edge bioassay technologies with the collaboration of key SMEs in the area
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The bridging of excellence and expertise in biology and in clinical science that is essential to ensure a swift translation from discovery to clinical validation. One main issue to start a BM clinical validation programme is the artificial separation between clinical research and basic science.
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The completion of nested case-control observational studies for the clinical validation of the diagnostic and predictive value of the new BMs, as well as a proof of concept trial for the clinical validation of BMs that will predict drug response of HF preventive therapy.
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The adequate data quality assurance, statistical powering and statistical analyses aimed at producing reliable and evidence based results that are likely to be adopted in clinical practice, i.e. ensuring that the value of the new ‘omics based BMs is superior to or complements existing classical BMs, clinical phenotypes and risk prediction models.
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The provision for ‘omics BM technology research strategies that will lead to industrially usable cost-effective ‘omics based multiplex BM arrays that meet regulatory agencies and market requirements.
