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News

16 October 2024

New MASH-cirrhosis animal models

📢 We are excited to share our latest publication from DECISION members, where we developed a fast and reproducible animal model of advanced MASH-cirrhosis in rats. By using a combination of CCl4, a high-fat Western diet (WD), and phenobarbital (PB), we’ve been able to mimic the key histological and pathophysiological features of decompensated MASH-cirrhosis seen in humans.

🔬 In just a shorter timeframe compared to existing models, this approach accurately reflects the advanced stage of the disease, making it an excellent tool for the development of new pharmacological treatments for MASH-cirrhosis.

For more details, read the full paper here:
🔓 https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/20/1707

Congrats to first authors Nico Kraus and Frank Erhard Uschner, as well as all contributing authors: Magnus Möslein, Robert Schierwagen, Wenyi Gu, Maximilian Brol, Elke Fürst, Inga Grünewald, Sophie Lotersztajn, Pierre-Emmanuel Rautou, Marta Duran Güell, PhD, Roger Flores Costa, Joan Claria, Jonel Trebicka, and Sabine Klein!

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News

9 July 2024

Press release: COMBAT Trial – First patient enrolled

Barcelona, Spain, 9th July 2024 – DECISION, an EU-funded research consortium in liver disease research, is pleased to announce the enrollment of the first patient at Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France in the COMBAT Trial, a multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase II clinical trial. This trial is a crucial component of the DECISION project, which aims to transform the treatment of decompensated cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

More information in our Press release.
Watch this video for more information on the COMBAT Trial, a lecture by Prof. Paolo Caraceni, Principal Investigator of the COMBAT Trial.

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Events

21 October 2024

This was our 6th General Assembly Meeting

The DECISION project held its 6th General Assembly from October 16–18, 2024, in Bologna, Italy, focusing on novel therapies, biomarker validation, and clinical translation for acutely decompensated cirrhosis.

Scientific Highlights:

  • Epigenetics and Transcriptomics: Estefania Huergo presented on epigenetic signatures, while Richard Moreau highlighted RNA-sequencing data, both offering insights into predicting adverse outcomes and mortality risks.
  • Biomarker Discovery: Johanna Reissing and Cristina López-Vicario identified potential biomarkers like microRNAs and inflammatory proteins linked to disease progression and ACLF risk. Pierre-Emmanuel Rautou discussed extracellular vesicles and their correlation with mortality.
  • Preclinical Models: Frank Uschner showcased progress in preclinical models testing combinatorial therapies like albumin and enoxaparin for ACLF.
  • Patient Stratification: David Gomez-Cabrero reported advancements in predicting outcomes using multi-omics data.
  • Clinical Trials: Paolo Caraceni outlined the COMBAT trial, assessing a combinatorial therapy, and the PROSPECT study focusing on biomarker validation and survival prediction.

Outreach and Impact: Tamara Berghammer emphasized dissemination efforts through a dedicated website, social media, and conference participation, ensuring the project’s influence and visibility.

The assembly concluded with a summary of progress in identifying new therapeutic strategies for liver disease, underscoring the consortium’s dedication to translating research into clinical practice.

Article is adapted from the EF-CLIF's news piece here.

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Our Vision

DECISION strives to better understand the pathophysiology of decompensated cirrhosis leading to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) at the systems level by taking advantage of already existing large and clinically well characterized patient cohorts. The ultimate goal is to significantly reduce mortality through combinatorial therapies that are tailored to the specific needs of individual patients. Part of this endeavour is to develop a reliable prognostic test and a robust response test.

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Why it matters

In 2013, cirrhosis was responsible for 1.2 million deaths worldwide. While most cirrhosis patients initially do not show symptoms, acute decompensation of cirrhosis, defined as the body’s inability to cope with the progressing dysfunctionality of the liver, leads to drastic symptoms. Decompensation is characterized by the development of ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, jaundice, or gastrointestinal haemorrhage, and is often a turning point for cirrhosis.

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