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01 - Maastricht University | CARIM

TTD is working on the development of new diagnostic tools for cardiovascular disease, both on a technical and scientific content level. The partner Maastricht University (UM) has achieved different results in collaboration with the other TTD partners.

• Together with VITO (Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp and VITO), a large 'proteomics analysis' was performed on endothelial cells as part of the TTD work package "WP3D2 - Inflammation". The expression of proteins is compared between non-inflamed and inflamed endothelial cells. The data is currently being analyzed. The expectation is that this will provide new insights into which proteins are involved in cardiovascular diseases.
• For "WP3D3 - Metabolic", UM has set up a portfolio of assays that can be used to determine the metabolic status of endothelial cells by means of imaging, as a risk assessment for cardiovascular disease. Through the 2^nd MIX-round we hope to find partners with which we can simplify the imaging part of these assays.
• Together with TSG InnoteQ and PPLs Tenco DDM and PimBio, UM is working on the development of an automated 'Dynamic Inflammation Assay'. The interaction between blood vessels and immune system (the basis of many cardiovascular diseases) is studied in vitro, in a miniature and simple way. During the development of the new proof-of-concept model, UM has applied new biological insights to the iterative collaboration with the aforementioned partners to achieve the first 'Dynamic Inflammation Assay' and a first prototype was successfully tested on 18 December 2018; a beautiful success of interregional public-private partnerships that will be developed into a Demonstrator in 2019.

The first prototypes tested in December 2018, the realization of various new R&D assays and infrastructure, the strengthening of our network and the realization of more and also successful collaborations with our colleagues from Belgium and the Netherlands, but also strengthening knowledge and know-how of Maastricht University and its researchers show that European cooperation is strong.

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Figure: Within TTD the UM has achieved various results together with the TTD partners. Left: Example of differences in expression of a protein between different conditions, obtained by means of the proteomics analysis together with VITO. A = non-inflamed endothelium; B, C, D = endothelium inflamed in vitro by different stimuli. Blue = 1 hour, red = 3 hours, green = 16 hours of inflammation. Middle: The metabolic status of the endothelial cells (nucleus = blue) is visualized by means of a fluorescent probe (green). Right: On December 18, 2018, the first new 'Dynamic Inflammation Assay' as developed by various partners within TTD was tested at the UM.