RADOX · RADical reduction of OXidative stress in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) constitutes a major and increasing health burden in developed countries. The prediction is that the prevalence of these conditions will increase by ~60% over the next 20 years. Therefore, the development of novel treatments for patients with CVD becomes more and more urgent. Oxidative stress is an important molecular contributor to the pathogenesis of CVD. However, oxidative stress-related therapeutic strategies are still missing. This ITN consortium links investigators highly active in the field of oxidative stress-signalling, and will strongly enhance collaborative research and integrate complementary interests to obtain innovative science and outstanding in-depth integrative multidisciplinary training possibilities. The scientific aims of this ITN proposal entitled ‘RADical reduction of OXidative stress in cardiovascular disease (RADOX)’ are to characterize the specific sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their interaction in CVD and to use this knowledge to develop diagnostic tools for the detection and quantification of ROS and their subcellular targets. This will lead to new therapeutic strategies which modulate the activity of these specific sources of ROS. This RADOX consortium, containing 9 full partners (7 academic and 2 private) and 7 associate partners (1 academic and 6 private) will train 11ESR and 4ER. The mission of this ITN consortium is to create in a period of 4-years the future leaders in this field. Our trainees will receive unequaled multidisciplinary scientific and transferable skills training which will make them ready for leading positions in academia or industry. The training in this programme will be at 3 levels i.e. through research under supervision, transferable skills and secondments and will have a strong intersectoral, international and interdisciplinary character. Afterwards, the RADOX structure will serve as a European platform for outstanding doctoral training and oxidative stress research.