Page 18 - CIBERES-2015-eng

Scientific Programmes
Asthma
COORDINATOR: DR . Ma VICTORIA DEL POZO
The Corporate Research Programme (PCI) for asthma has got under way a study of cohorts of asthmatic patients in Spain (Project MEGA) which will enable more effective research into this disease. Asthma affects three million peo- ple in Spain and constitutes a worldwide health problem.
The MEGA project combines research groups with extensive experience in asthma, allergy, ge- netics, genomics, proteomics and immunology. This cooperation contributes the work done by a critical mass of researchers who are applying their knowledge for better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the start and progression of a chronic inflammatory disease such as asthma. To this end researchers in the project have designed a database and estab- lished a common methodology for collecting bi- ological samples. This database of the Asthma PCI, in which seven nationwide hospital centres are currently taking part, is already set up and data of over 100 patients have been included in the six months for which it has been operating.
Accomplishments
Identification and characterisation of phenotypic markers of asthma.
Becoming a worldwide leader in research into occupational asthma: study of epidemiological, immunological aspects and prevalence of occupational asthma.
Study on sputum induction applied to respiratory diseases.
This includes demographic data, clinical data, data on control of the disease, use of medication or of family background, as well as the results of the analytical tests carried out on those af- fected. It is intended to carry out follow-up of the patients for at least the four years for which the study lasts, although our intention is for those affected, and thus the evolution of their disease, to go on being studied for longer than that.
Thanks to the cooperation of the seven groups from different hospitals, resources can be opti- mised, thus shortening the time taken to trans- fer the results to healthcare practice, This will ultimately enable an improvement in the health of asthmatic patients and increase their quality of life and well-being.
Impact
Better diagnosis, treatment of patients and possible per- sonalised treatments.
These studies have enabled learning about the mechanism and prevalence of occupational pathology in the Spanish population, which has enabled better diagnosis and treat- ment of affected patients.
Incorporation as a clinical trial in different hospitals.
18 I Annual report 2015 I CIBERES