UMC Utrecht to Lead €7M Research Project on RSV Infections and Asthma Risk in Childhood
UMC Utrecht, a leading Dutch medical center, has secured a €7 million grant from the European Commission to lead an ambitious five-year research project. The project aims to unlock the mysteries surrounding the increased risk of asthma in individuals who had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections during early childhood. The international consortium, called CLARITY (Causative Link between respirAtory syncytial viRus and chronic lung diseases: Identifying Targets for therapY), will explore the genetic and physiological mechanisms that contribute to the development of asthma later in life.
Chronic respiratory tract diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pose a significant health challenge worldwide. While infections and genetics are known risk factors, the exact molecular and physiological mechanisms linking viral infections to non-communicable diseases are not fully understood. RSV, a common virus that infects nearly all infants before the age of 2, has been identified as a factor in asthma development. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the specific changes that occur in the lungs of susceptible infants, as well as how to reverse any damage caused by RSV infection in immature lungs.
The CLARITY research consortium will take an interdisciplinary approach to unravel the genetic risk factors and underlying mechanisms that lead to virus-induced asthma. By examining national cohorts from Estonia and Spain, the investigators will identify human genetic risk factors and RSV strains associated with severe bronchiolitis. Additionally, they will analyze how RSV disrupts intracellular networks, triggering the development of asthma. Advanced artificial intelligence techniques will be employed to integrate the data generated with existing biological knowledge. This will enable the identification of drug-like compounds that can reverse the effects of RSV-induced perturbations. To validate their findings, researchers will study patient-derived airway organoid models and, if promising, conduct controlled human infection model trials.
The project coordinator and principal investigator, Marianne Boes PhD, a renowned immunologist from UMC Utrecht, commented, CLARITY is expected to have a significant impact on the comprehension, prevention, and potential treatment of virus-triggered asthma. Our findings will enable the development of a genetic risk score, allowing for personalized prevention campaigns in collaboration with patient groups. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms discovered in this study will guide the development of mechanism-targeted drugs and potentially shed light on the pathogenesis of other non-communicable diseases.
The socio-economic impact of this research is expected to be substantial. By reducing disease burden and promoting well-being, the outcomes of this project will empower patients, caregivers, and the general public. They have the potential to significantly advance the management of respiratory diseases and increase awareness of the link between RSV and chronic respiratory tract conditions such as asthma and COPD.
UMC Utrecht will coordinate the CLARITY consortium, which comprises nine partners from four European Union countries. The consortium includes a university, three clinical centers, one public health organization, three research institutions, and a patient organization. With funding from the European Commission’s HORIZON HEALTH 2023 grant, the project is well-equipped to make significant strides in understanding and addressing the complex relationship between RSV infections in childhood and the heightened risk of developing asthma later in life.
