Brussels, 22/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - A conference on Friday 19 March in Brussels, which brought together scientists and representatives from industry, institutions and patients, examined cardiovascular disease and proposed possible ways forward for European research.
As Commissioner Phillipe Busquin pointed out, cardiovascular disease in Europe is currently one of the main causes of death in Europe. Amongst men under 65, 42% die following cardiovascular diseases, as opposed to 32% dying of cancer. Recent epidemiological studies show that the mortality rate has gone down. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is accompanied by a number of chronic diseases which will further increase Europe's ageing population. The prevention and treatment of these illnesses require significant research input. Although the European Commission considers that it is crucial to promote a "translational approach" through connecting up pre-clinical research and clinical research, some researchers continue to favour basic research.
Commissioner Busquin pointed out that under the 5th Community framework programme, cardiovascular research received funding support of EUR 43 million. He highlighted two projects: VASCAN, which helped develop techniques for identifying tri-dimensional blood vessels, thus significantly contributing to the treatment of high blood pressure; ESCAPE-TRIAL, which contributed to the development of a strategy for of pharmacological protection of children's kidneys. Following the first call for proposals in the 6 framework programme, two other projects have just got off the ground. Bloodomics brings together 14 partners from six countries with European funding of EUR 9 million for discovering genetic markers that help in the identification of possible coronary thrombosis. The European Vascular Genomics Network, with 28 partners from 10 countries and a Community funding of EUR 9 million, aims to better structure European group leaders in the application of genomics to vascular biological research.
Professor Jean-Jacques Mercadier (INSERM/Bichat) underlined the need to improve accident prevention and cardiovascular disease by developing tools for determining risk profiles and assessing patient response in available therapeutic methods. Professor Mercadier insisted that priorities should include: 1) development of cell biology knowledge in the cardiovascular system, 2) angiogenesis mechanisms (more than 70 diseases are caused by excessive or insufficient generation of new vessels), 3) stem cells and their differentiation in cardiovascular cells, 4) the formation of arteriosclerosis plaques, (5) new risk factors (obesity, diabetes, etc), (6) the role of mitochondria in cardiac protection, (7) prevention from sudden death (it is increasing by 1/1000 per annum).