With a budget of 79€ billion the EU’s latest research and innovation programme Horizon2020, aims to tackle societal challenges and foster excellent science and industrial leadership. The first calls for proposals were just launched at the end of 2013 and researchers across Europe are building new consortia and discussing potential projects.
Dr Catherine Larue, CEO of IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg), explains how IBBL and the members of the Personalised Medicine Consortium of Luxembourg will play their part in shaping healthcare and research in Europe.
Interview by Sarah Weiler (SW)
SW: How would you describe IBBL’s role in the European biomedical research landscape?
CL: As a biobank we collect, process and store biological samples and the data associated with these samples. IBBL also provides multi-technology and IT platforms as well as project management services, all of which are important aspects for large European consortia. The samples, data and other services are made available to both Luxembourgish and international researchers. So we are not only involved in local research projects but have also been chosen as collection and storage partner for several large pan-European studies, for instance projects for the Joint Programme on Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) and for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Overall our role is to facilitate biomedical research in general, with a particular focus on personalised medicine and biomarkers, as this is our area of interest and expertise. Personalised medicine and healthcare essentially means treatment is tailored to individual patients and therefore the right treatment is provided to the right patient at the right time.
SW: The Luxembourgish government has chosen to invest in personalised medicine. How does this fit with the EU’s point of view?
CL: With the creation of IBBL and the LCSB (Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine) and subsequent introduction of the Personalised Medicine Consortium (PMC) in 2010, the Luxembourgish government has clearly indicated that they believe in personalised medicine as the way forward to improve citizen’s healthcare. The PMC regroups both researchers and clinicians in an effort to facilitate discussions and collaborative projects, with the ultimate goal of introducing personalised medicine into the national health care system for the benefit of the whole population. Similarly, the European Commission began investing in personalised medicine in their previous framework programme, FP7. In line with this commitment, the topic for the Horizon2020 health work programme for the coming 2 years is emphasized on “personalising health and care”. So the Commission is continuing on the same path but trying to take this a step further and really push the progress that was made into the clinic and the health care systems. Indeed one challenge often encountered in biomarker research is that many are discovered but their validation is often not confirmed in prospective populations and non-relevant biomarkers are discarded.
SW: How will IBBL participate in these EU-funded grants under Horizon2020?
CL: The first calls for proposals for Horizon2020 were launched in December 2013. As an organiser of the annual PMC retreat, IBBL invited Dr Irene Norstedt, the Head of the Personalised Medicine Unit at the European Commission, to Luxembourg in November to present the Horizon2020 framework programme. Within the programme, IBBL intends to play a double role as initiator and facilitator of research projects. On the one hand, we will submit our own proposals conjointly with our national research partners and clinicians. On the other hand, we will propose our biobanking and biomarker validation expertise and services to other developing consortia. Our reputation for providing high quality samples, our central and neutral European location, added to our expertise in personalised medicine and project management, should help us become part of some successful consortia. As I mentioned before, we already have experience in working on international studies and we also participated in FP7 projects on biospecimen preservation. Participation in these EU projects is a crucial part of IBBL’s strategy as we know what tremendous value international collaborations can bring to the advancement of research.
SW: In addition to project financing, why do you believe it is important to participate in these EU funded programmes?
CL: These EU programmes are a possible source of funding for research projects. But you have to keep in mind that these programmes and calls for proposals are highly competitive – on average 1 out of 10 projects is funded. Every project is evaluated in great detail and judged on its innovation factor, quality of science and benefit/impact on society, as the Commission wants to see a return on their investment both on the economic, health and social sides. So, many of the successful projects will lead to new marketable services or products, including validated, relevant biomarkers, which can generate income, intellectual property and create jobs. This is of course completely in line with the Luxembourgish government’s idea of economic diversification, which was behind their investment in the biomedical sector. The participation of IBBL in EU-funded projects matches our efforts to further diversify our funding resources through grant applications and service contracts. Finally, it also increases the visibility of Luxembourg on a European level, particularly if we get the opportunity to collaborate with prestigious institutes.