ALIVE · Analytical platform for non-invasive diagnosis of LIVEr disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease of alarmingly increasing prevalence, associated with metabolic and cardiovascular complications and morbid mortality. The disease spectrum covers from a simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). With estimated 25% of population having NAFLD, it makes it the most common liver disease in the world. While diagnosing and stratifying NAFLD and NASH is of high priority to identify subjects with increased risk for cardio-vascular complications, the gold standard of current diagnostics is an invasive liver biopsy. Recently discovered extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown high potential to become novel source of non-invasive biomarkers as they are loaded with the same molecular information as their parental cells (proteins, metabolites, RNAs). Molecular information of liver-derived EVs could be a great source of liver specific biomarkers, that are obtainable in circulation and are suitable for non-invasive diagnostics. However, analysing biochemical/omics profiles of tissue specific EVs in biofluids is an unsolved challenge and has not been realized in routine clinical diagnostics yet. In this project ALIVE we propose to develop a technology capable of isolating cell and organ specific EVs from biological samples and perform their omics analysis and to apply this technology in the proof-of-concept investigation of potential biomarkers of liver disease in blood. ALIVE is a great opportunity for the experience researcher Dr. Andrea Capuano to gain new technical and transferable skills, exchange knowledge with the host, an innovative European startup EXIT071 and secure a leadership position in innovative ecosystem of Europe.