Netherlands Heart Foundation From Cardiovascular Genomics Initiative to NHF
Genomics Task Force
In January 2002 the Netherlands Cardiovascular Genomics Initiative submitted a letter of intent to the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI). Unfortunately, the proposal just missed the boat. Of the 13 proposals submitted, four were selected as 'genomics focus'. The Cardiovascular Genomics Initiative, which was considered 'good', was placed fifth. Despite this setback, the partners of the Initiative decided to continue because a strong collaboration and mutual respect had developed between them during the preparation of the application. This resulted in the establishment of the Netherlands Platform for Cardiovascular Research ofthe Netherlands Heart Foundation (NHF) in 2002. Along with the NHF all university cardiovascular research institutions are represented in this body, as well as the ICIN (Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands), the Graduate School VLAG (Advanced Studies in Food Technology, Agrobiotechnology, Nutrition and Health Sciences) and RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment). Genomics is one of the Platform's areas of special attention.
The Platform started searching for alternative forms offinancing cardiovascular genomics research, and they were successftil. Financing was secured from the genomics programmes of the NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) or Senter, or from the industry for four of the six topics from the original plan submitted to the NGI. The NHE established a Cardiovascular Genomics Task Force 2003-2008 and supplied finance for the two remaining topics, both especially relevant for the NHF: 'Cardiac electrophysiology and rhythm disturbances' and 'Cardiac pump (dys)function in heart failure'. As part of this Task Force, the NHF also created room for Genomics within the Dr E. Dekker programme. A committee ofinternational experts was established to make a selection from the proposals submitted. Professor N. Westerhof (chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the NHF) was appointed chairman. The committee was impressed by the high quality ofthe proposals submitted. They selected two proposals, which were accepted by the NHF at the end of2003, and started in 2004. Below is a brief description of the programme subsidy and the Established Investigator grant awarded as part of the N-F Cardiovascular Genomics Task Force.
Progrmme subsidy Title: 'Virtuous intentions, malign consequences. Modifiers of the malign consequences ofleft ventricular hypertrophy' Project leaders: Professor AA.M. Wilde and Dr Y.M. Pinto Starting date: 1 September 2004
Patients with heart failure not only suffer from a wide range of symptoms including exhaustion and shortness of breath, they also run a greatly increased risk of fatal arrhythm-ria. It is known that hypertension is associated with an increased risk of heart failure. With our current state of knowledge, however, we are unable to predict whether a patient will develop heart failure and/or arrhythmia. In this programme, researchers from the Universities of Amsterdam and Maastricht are searching for hereditary factors that lead to heart failure and fatal arrhythmia. They are screening the genetic material of over 56,000 persons. The researchers hope that in the future this will allow them to determine at an early stage whether a patient will develop heart failure and/or arrhythmia, long before the symptoms become evident. The researchers are also trying to find new forms of treatment. The researchers in this programme collaborate in the Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands (ICIN).
Established investigator: Dr E.A.L. Biessen Title: 'Leukocyte homeostasis in the advanced plaque: a key to understanding rupture-related syndromes' Starting date: 1 April 2004 The process of atherosclerosis leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the vascular wall. These plaques include fat particles, macrophages and clots. In the final stage of atherosclerosis, the plaque can become so unstable that it ruptures. The contents of the plaque are dispersed in the blood circulation, which can lead to clot formation. This can result in a cardiac or cerebral infarction. It is likely that the composition of the plaque determines the severity of the complications occurring after rupture of the plaque. In particular, the quantity of inflammatory cells and dead cells in the plaque seems to be involved. This hypothesis is being explored in this project. The composition of stable plaques is compared with that of unstable plaques. At the gene level, the researchers are studying the production of inflammationpromoting factors in macrophages (from plaques) and the possibilities of influencing this production. This project aims to provide more insight into the development of unstable atherosclerotic plaques and into dot formation after the plaque is ruptured. This will lead to new therapies, which can prevent rupture or limit the results ofrupture. U N. van der Houwen Research Department/Knowledge Centre Netherlands Heart Foundation, The Hague
There are approximately 200,000 heart failure patients in the Netherlands. This number increases annually by about 10%. 326
Netherlands Heart Journal, Volume 13, Number 9,
September 2005
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Genomics Task Force
In January 2002 the Netherlands Cardiovascular Genomics Initiative submitted a letter of intent to the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI). Unfortunately, the proposal just missed the boat. Of the 13 proposals submitted, four were selected as 'genomics focus'. The Cardiovascular Genomics Initiative, which was considered 'good', was placed fifth. Despite this setback, the partners of the Initiative decided to continue because a strong collaboration and mutual respect had developed between them during the preparation of the application. This resulted in the establishment of the Netherlands Platform for Cardiovascular Research ofthe Netherlands Heart Foundation (NHF) in 2002. Along with the NHF all university cardiovascular research institutions are represented in this body, as well as the ICIN (Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands), the Graduate School VLAG (Advanced Studies in Food Technology, Agrobiotechnology, Nutrition and Health Sciences) and RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment). Genomics is one of the Platform's areas of special attention.
The Platform started searching for alternative forms offinancing cardiovascular genomics research, and they were successftil. Financing was secured from the genomics programmes of the NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) or Senter, or from the industry for four of the six topics from the original plan submitted to the NGI. The NHE established a Cardiovascular Genomics Task Force 2003-2008 and supplied finance for the two remaining topics, both especially relevant for the NHF: 'Cardiac electrophysiology and rhythm disturbances' and 'Cardiac pump (dys)function in heart failure'. As part of this Task Force, the NHF also created room for Genomics within the Dr E. Dekker programme. A committee ofinternational experts was established to make a selection from the proposals submitted. Professor N. Westerhof (chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the NHF) was appointed chairman. The committee was impressed by the high quality ofthe proposals submitted. They selected two proposals, which were accepted by the NHF at the end of2003, and started in 2004. Below is a brief description of the programme subsidy and the Established Investigator grant awarded as part of the N-F Cardiovascular Genomics Task Force.
Progrmme subsidy Title: 'Virtuous intentions, malign consequences. Modifiers of the malign consequences ofleft ventricular hypertrophy' Project leaders: Professor AA.M. Wilde and Dr Y.M. Pinto Starting date: 1 September 2004
Patients with heart failure not only suffer from a wide range of symptoms including exhaustion and shortness of breath, they also run a greatly increased risk of fatal arrhythm-ria. It is known that hypertension is associated with an increased risk of heart failure. With our current state of knowledge, however, we are unable to predict whether a patient will develop heart failure and/or arrhythmia. In this programme, researchers from the Universities of Amsterdam and Maastricht are searching for hereditary factors that lead to heart failure and fatal arrhythmia. They are screening the genetic material of over 56,000 persons. The researchers hope that in the future this will allow them to determine at an early stage whether a patient will develop heart failure and/or arrhythmia, long before the symptoms become evident. The researchers are also trying to find new forms of treatment. The researchers in this programme collaborate in the Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands (ICIN).
Established investigator: Dr E.A.L. Biessen Title: 'Leukocyte homeostasis in the advanced plaque: a key to understanding rupture-related syndromes' Starting date: 1 April 2004 The process of atherosclerosis leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the vascular wall. These plaques include fat particles, macrophages and clots. In the final stage of atherosclerosis, the plaque can become so unstable that it ruptures. The contents of the plaque are dispersed in the blood circulation, which can lead to clot formation. This can result in a cardiac or cerebral infarction. It is likely that the composition of the plaque determines the severity of the complications occurring after rupture of the plaque. In particular, the quantity of inflammatory cells and dead cells in the plaque seems to be involved. This hypothesis is being explored in this project. The composition of stable plaques is compared with that of unstable plaques. At the gene level, the researchers are studying the production of inflammationpromoting factors in macrophages (from plaques) and the possibilities of influencing this production. This project aims to provide more insight into the development of unstable atherosclerotic plaques and into dot formation after the plaque is ruptured. This will lead to new therapies, which can prevent rupture or limit the results ofrupture. U N. van der Houwen Research Department/Knowledge Centre Netherlands Heart Foundation, The Hague
There are approximately 200,000 heart failure patients in the Netherlands. This number increases annually by about 10%. 326
Netherlands Heart Journal, Volume 13, Number 9,
September 2005
qpc
