News and Events
PICKED Mid-Term Meeting in Athens: A Week of Science, Collaboration & Shared Vision
10.12.2025
From 1–5 December 2025, the PICKED consortium gathered in Athens for an inspiring week of scientific exchange, training, and strategic reflection. Despite arriving to heavy rain, Greece welcomed us with the same warmth, openness, and hospitality that defined the entire meeting, from the generous hosts at BRFAA to the incredible food and lively conversations that carried throughout the week.
This Mid-Term Meeting brought together our doctoral candidates, supervisors, industry partners, clinicians, ethicists, and the European Commission representatives for a concentrated programme of workshops, presentations, and consortium discussions.
A Week That Moved the Project Forward
Over five structured days, the programme combined hands-on training, scientific dialogue, and evaluation of the project’s progress:
🔬 OMICS Training at BRFAA
The week began with an advanced OMICS workshop hosted by the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens. Doctoral candidates explored tools and methods central to PICKED’s scientific objectives, gaining deeper insight into proteomics, peptidomics, and analytical workflows.
⚖️ Ethics & Health Economics
A dedicated training day focused on the ethical, societal, and economic dimensions of personalised kidney care — a core pillar of PICKED’s interdisciplinary approach.
🎓 Complementary Skills Development
Candidates strengthened their competencies in project management, scientific communication, and interdisciplinary teamwork — skills essential for emerging researchers.
🧑🔬 Mid-Term Review with the European Commission
We were honoured to welcome our EU Project Officer, who joined us in Athens to review the progress achieved since Month 1.
The review highlighted:
- Strong engagement across all work packages
- Excellent scientific and training achievements
- Clear consortium cohesion
- Well-managed implementation of secondments
- Impressive motivation and maturity of the doctoral candidates
We extend our sincere thanks to the European Commission for the constructive feedback and continued support.
A Memorable Gathering, Beyond the Programme
While intense and productive, the meeting was also marked by the sense of community that makes PICKED such a unique network.
Dinners in Athens, informal discussions over coffee, and moments of laughter between sessions all contributed to a shared feeling:
We are building something together, not only scientific outcomes, but an international community committed to advancing personalised medicine in chronic kidney disease.
Despite the rain, the spirit was bright, the atmosphere energising, and the engagement across partners outstanding.
Our Thanks
We warmly thank:
- BRFAA for hosting and coordinating the first part of the programme
- All speakers and trainers for their time and expertise
- The doctoral candidates, whose presentations and enthusiasm were truly inspiring
- Our Project Officer for visiting us and supporting our mission
- Every partner organisation for their ongoing commitment to the PICKED vision
The Athens meeting marks a significant milestone as we enter the second half of the project, a phase focused on deepening scientific analyses, publishing results, completing secondments, and bringing PICKED’s innovations closer to real-world impact.
We look forward to continuing this journey together.
.
Delta4 Featured in FFG Success Story: Advancing Personalised Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease
08.11.2025
We are pleased to highlight a recent FFG Success Story featuring our consortium partner Delta4, showcasing their central role in driving personalised medicine forward within the PICKED Project – Personalized Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease: A Global Challenge
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 850 million people worldwide, representing a major and growing medical and socio-economic burden. Despite this, CKD remains under-recognised compared to other chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disorders. There is still an urgent need for earlier detection, accurate prediction of disease progression, and truly personalised treatment strategies.
This is where Delta4’s contribution within PICKED becomes essential.
The PICKED Project
PICKED is funded by the EU’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) and focuses on training a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers. Ten doctoral candidates are being trained across Europe in biomedical sciences, clinical nephrology, bioinformatics, ethics, and regulatory frameworks.
The scientific work in PICKED is structured into five interconnected work packages:
Early detection of CKD in at-risk groups (WP1)
Development and validation of biomarker signatures for patients with congenital kidney diseases and those recovering from acute kidney injury.
Prediction of CKD progression (WP2)
Identification of multiparametric protein and peptide markers for personalised risk assessment in both adults and children.
Personalised pharmacotherapy (WP3)
Use of biomarker profiles to predict individual drug responses and support drug repurposing.
Personalised dialysis (WP4)
Development of innovative real-time monitoring technologies to adapt dialysis therapy to each patient’s metabolic profile.
Ethical, legal, and quality-of-life aspects (WP5)
Assessment of societal, regulatory, and ethical challenges in implementing personalised medicine in CKD.
Beyond scientific research, PICKED places strong emphasis on training and knowledge exchange, combining academic excellence with industry insights, international secondments, and courses in project management, entrepreneurship, and science communication.
Delta4’s Role
As Austria’s representative in the consortium, Delta4 contributes its expertise in Big Data analytics and computational modelling for drug development. Their research within PICKED focuses on understanding molecular processes involved in the transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease. Improved insights into this transition could lead to better prognostic tools and more effective therapeutic strategies.
The Value of European Collaboration
In the FFG profile, Delta4’s CEO Paul Perco highlights the unique opportunities created by EU-funded projects:
“An EU project like PICKED offers the unique opportunity to build a strong international network while training outstanding young researchers. The close collaboration between universities, clinics, and companies creates synergies that accelerate scientific innovation and facilitate the translation of new concepts into practice.”
Learn More
📖Delta4 Article:
https://delta4.ai/personalized-medicine/
📖 Read the full FFG Success Story (German):
https://www.ffg.at/success-stories/delta4
🎥 Watch the accompanying video interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-g6qu41THU
We congratulate Delta4 on this recognition and are proud to see PICKED highlighted as part of Austria’s innovation landscape in personalised medicine.
PICKED Doctoral Candidate Wins Best Oral Presentation at the 6th International Wrocław Scientific Meetings
11.11.2025
We are proud to share that PICKED Doctoral Candidate Sajjad Biglari (Mosaiques Diagnostics GmbH) received the Best Oral Presentation Award at the 6th International Wrocław Scientific Meetings held in Poland.
Sajjad presented his latest research findings on urinary peptidomic biomarkers and the role of dietary interventions in reducing vascular risk in Type 2 diabetes — work recently published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (2025).
His presentation highlighted how urinary peptidomics can provide a powerful, non-invasive tool for understanding disease mechanisms and personalising treatment in chronic kidney disease and metabolic disorders.
The award recognises the high scientific quality and clinical relevance of his work, as well as his engaging presentation style and clarity in communicating complex molecular concepts.
Congratulations to Sajjad for this outstanding achievement — a great example of the scientific excellence and impact fostered within the PICKED project.
🎥 Watch the final minutes of Sajjad’s winning presentation.
Bioinformatics & Biostatistics Workshop (Vienna)
15–17 October 2025
21.10.2025
From 15–17 October 2025, doctoral candidates and supervisors from the PICKED consortium gathered in Vienna, Austria for a three-day Bioinformatics & Biostatistics Workshop hosted by Delta4 GmbH (with support from the Medical University of Vienna). The training focused on turning raw data into robust, interpretable results—bridging methods with day-to-day research needs in chronic kidney disease.
Workshop focus
- Study design & data quality: framing clinical and translational questions, sample size basics, bias and confounding, QC checklists.
- Statistical foundations: hypothesis testing, multiple testing control, effect sizes, and reproducibility.
- Hands-on analysis: practical sessions in R/Python for data wrangling, visualization, and reporting.
- Omics pipelines: from preprocessing (normalization, batch effects) to differential analysis and pathway/functional enrichment.
- Predictive modelling: cross-validation, feature selection, and model performance metrics applied to CKD use-cases.
- Reporting & FAIR practice: code notebooks, version control, and transparent research workflows.
What participants worked on
- Built end-to-end mini-pipelines (import → QC → analysis → visualization → report).
- Compared statistical approaches on real and synthetic datasets to understand trade-offs.
- Translated outputs into clinically meaningful figures and summary tables suitable for manuscripts and consortium reports.
Outcomes
- A shared set of reusable templates (scripts/notebooks) for common analyses.
- Clear guidance on when to use which statistical test or modelling approach.
- Stronger links between PICKED partners and Delta4’s bioinformatics team for follow-up troubleshooting and secondments.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Delta4 for hosting and to all instructors and participants for their engagement over the three days. The workshop underscored the consortium’s commitment to rigorous, reproducible analytics and to translating data into patient-relevant insights.
PICKED Consortium Meeting – Athens, 1–5 December 2025
16.10.2025
PICKED Consortium Meeting – Athens, 1–5 December 2025
The PICKED consortium will meet from 1–5 December 2025 in Athens, Greece, for a week dedicated to science, collaboration, and reflection on the project’s first half.
Hosted by the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), this meeting will bring together doctoral candidates, supervisors, and experts from across Europe for an engaging mix of workshops, training sessions, and the formal midterm review.
A Week of Science and Collaboration
Over five days, participants will have the opportunity to:
Take part in an advanced OMICS workshop focused on translating molecular data into clinical insights.
Attend a dedicated Ethics and Health Economics workshop exploring the societal and regulatory dimensions of personalised medicine.
Join the Complementary Skills Course 2, providing training in clinical trials, teaching, and communication.
Participate in the Midterm Review with the European Research Executive Agency (REA), including presentations by all PICKED doctoral candidates on their research progress and training experiences.
Strengthening the PICKED Network
The Athens meeting marks a major milestone in the project, offering space to reflect on achievements so far and to shape the next phase of PICKED’s journey. It will also serve as an important networking opportunity, fostering stronger connections between researchers, partners, and industry collaborators.
Together, the PICKED consortium continues to advance personalised medicine in chronic kidney disease, combining scientific excellence with collaboration and innovation.
📍 Locations:
Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens – OMICS Workshop
Stratos Vassilikos Hotel, Athens – Ethics Workshop, Complementary Skills Course 2, and Midterm Review
🗓️ Dates: 1–5 December 2025
📅 Agenda
Training Session: Interpreting OMICS Data in the Context of Biology
01.10.2025
On 30 September 2025, doctoral candidates and researchers from three MSCA Doctoral Networks — PICKED, PROMOTE, and DisCo-I — came together for a joint training session on interpreting OMICS datasets.
The session was initiated and organized by doctoral candidates from the DisCo-I network, with contributions from experts across all three projects. Its goal was to bridge the gap between generating large-scale OMICS data (transcriptomics, proteomics, peptidomics) and interpreting them in a meaningful biological and clinical context.
Programme Highlights
Paul Perco (Delta4, Austria)
Useful Resources for Interpreting OMICS Data in the Molecular Biological Context
Makis Zoidakis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens / BRFAA, Greece)
Elucidation of Molecular Features Associated with Progression of Monoclonal Gammopathies to Multiple Myeloma
Both presentations were followed by lively discussions, offering participants practical resources and fresh perspectives on how to make sense of complex datasets in biological and clinical research.
Collaboration in Action
The training session highlighted the collaborative spirit of the MSCA Doctoral Networks, which bring together early-stage researchers, supervisors, and experts across Europe. Events like this strengthen professional development, create synergies, and provide valuable insights into the field of OMICS and systems biology.
We sincerely thank the DisCo-I doctoral candidates for taking the lead in organizing this initiative, and all contributors from PICKED, PROMOTE, and DisCo-I for making it a success.
Delta4 Featured by FFG: Building International Networks and Driving Innovation in Kidney Research
24.09.2025
We are pleased to share that Paul Perco, Computational Biology Lead of Delta4 GmbH, was recently featured in the FFG Forschung Wirkt series. In this interview, Paul highlights how the company’s innovative approach to drug repositioning is shaping the future of precision medicine.
Drug repositioning — identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drug compounds — allows Delta4 to model disease processes more effectively, providing a foundation for more accurate diagnoses and prognoses.
As a partner in the PICKED project, Delta4 focuses on studying the processes that influence the transition from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD). This research contributes to the development of personalised strategies for earlier detection and more effective treatment of CKD, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Paul emphasized the importance of international collaboration and training the next generation of researchers through Horizon Europe’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks.
This work is made possible thanks to the support of Horizon Europe and the guidance of FFG – the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, which provides expertise from the application phase through project implementation.
Science, Collaboration, and Perseverance: PICKED Featured in Inserm Podcast
23.09.2025
On the occasion of World Health Day (7 April), our coordinators Joost Schanstra and Julie Klein, both Research Directors at Inserm Toulouse, shared their vision of how research can transform kidney care in an interview produced by Inserm.
They reminded us that kidney disease affects an estimated 10% of the global population, with serious complications — particularly cardiovascular — that often go undetected until late stages. While treatments and detection methods have improved in recent years, they remain largely non-personalised.
That is where PICKED – Personalized Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease comes in.
“Our project aims to better adapt treatments to each patient and to train young researchers in these future practices.”
— Joost Schanstra, Inserm Toulouse
In the podcast, Joost and Julie reflect on:
The challenges of developing personalised approaches for kidney disease detection and treatment.
The importance of collaboration across Europe, bringing together 10 beneficiaries and 8 associated partners under Horizon Europe.
The role of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) in training the next generation of kidney researchers.
Their personal insights into the perseverance and teamwork needed to advance science with impact.
🎧 Listen to the full interview here
We thank Inserm and the production team — Cindy Salvador, Dominique Lautier, Muriel Bouas and MindProd — for their support in capturing this story.
PICKED Doctoral Candidate Presents at EACME Conference in Zurich
11-13.09.2025
We are delighted to share that Jeremy Power, Doctoral Candidate in the PICKED project, presented his work at the European Association of Centres of Medical Ethics (EACME) conference held in Zurich.
Jeremy presented a poster entitled “Getting personal: Ethical issues of personalised medicine in chronic kidney disease”, which summarized the core themes of his PhD project. The poster highlighted the ethical questions that arise when applying personalised medicine approaches to chronic kidney disease, ranging from data privacy and equity of access to the role of patient participation in shaping care.
This year’s EACME conference was held under the theme:
“Responsible Innovation: Ethical Perspectives on Health Care Research and Practice.”
Jeremy reflected on the experience:
“It was fantastic to meet researchers from across the world and to discuss projects that represent a wide range of bioethical issues. I particularly enjoyed learning about the ethics of digital twins, public health ethics around screening programs, and reproductive ethics. These discussions gave me valuable connections to the PICKED project and the future of care for chronic kidney disease.”
The conference also offered a unique opportunity to network with fellow PhD students, explore potential collaborations, and reflect on the responsibilities of researchers in ensuring patient perspectives are integrated into innovation.
Jeremy concluded:
“The conference left me inspired and with a lot to read and follow up on. I look forward to continuing these discussions at next year’s EACME meeting in Leuven.”
We congratulate Jeremy on this important milestone and thank EACME for hosting such an engaging and thought-provoking event.
📍 Conference: EACME Annual Conference
📅 Location: Zurich, Switzerland
🎓 PICKED Representation: Jeremy Power (DC, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III / CERPOP)
PICKED & DISCO-I Joint Meeting in Toulouse – Driving Innovation in Kidney Research
16.05.2025
Date: May 13–15, 2025
Location: Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), Toulouse, France
From May 13th to 15th, the vibrant city of Toulouse became the center of scientific collaboration as the PICKED and DISCO-I projects held their Joint Meeting—a three-day event dedicated to advancing research in chronic and rare kidney diseases through multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral exchange.
🧠 A Platform for Collaborative Learning
The meeting brought together:
Doctoral Candidates from both MSCA-funded networks
Leading researchers and clinicians from across Europe
Patient advocates, who shared invaluable perspectives on living with kidney disease
With interactive workshops, focused sessions, and scientific presentations, the agenda fostered a rich environment for knowledge sharing and strategic networking.
🔍 Scientific & Educational Highlights
Key topics covered during the meeting included:
Innovations in omics and their role in biomarker discovery and drug repositioning
Chronic and acute kidney disease: clinical challenges and emerging research
Patient perspectives, emphasizing the human side of scientific work
Ethics, integrity, and open science, fostering responsible research practices
Skills development workshops: from scientific writing to personal SWOT analysis
🎤 Distinguished Speakers
The event featured presentations by esteemed speakers such as:
Prof. Raymond Vanholder – Public health in kidney care
Prof. Franz Schaefer – Pediatric nephrology and rare diseases
Dr. Emmanuelle Rial-Sebbag – Research ethics and gender perspectives
Dr. Emine Guler Celik – Communicating complex science to the public
Prof. Alberto Ortiz and Prof. Harald Mischak – Omics and translational research leaders
🎓 Empowering Early-Stage Researchers
A central goal of the meeting was to support the professional development of Doctoral Candidates (DCs). Through dedicated presentation slots, career planning sessions, and peer exchange, DCs showcased their projects and honed skills essential for a successful research career.
A dedicated session, “Our Tips for a Successful PhD Journey,” provided peer-to-peer insights and opened a space for dialogue among DCs across both projects.
🍽️ Community and Culture
Beyond the science, participants enjoyed dinners at Le Point d’Ogre and L’esprit Toulousain, providing informal spaces to connect and unwind. The energy, curiosity, and camaraderie throughout the event reflected the strength and cohesion of the PICKED and DISCO-I networks.
The PICKED & DISCO-I Joint Meeting – Advancing Precision in Kidney Research
06.05.2025
We are excited to announce the upcoming PICKED & DISCO-I Joint Meeting, taking place from May 13–15, 2025, at the Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC) in Toulouse, France.
This three-day event brings together doctoral candidates, world-leading nephrologists, data scientists, and industry experts to explore the cutting edge of chronic kidney disease (CKD) research and omics-based innovation. Designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, the meeting will offer a unique mix of scientific workshops, soft skills training, strategic planning, and doctoral presentations.
🗓️ Key Highlights
DC Presentations & Supervisory Board Sessions (May 13): Our Doctoral Candidates will showcase their research progress. In parallel, the Supervisory Board will convene to evaluate upcoming deliverables and project milestones.
Scientific Workshops & Patient Perspectives: Sessions will address topics such as kidney disease prevention, acute and chronic conditions, and rare kidney diseases, with contributions from renowned clinicians and patient advocates like Uwe Korst and Peter Rossing.
Omics Integration & Innovation (May 14): Focused workshops on metagenomics, bioinformatics, and omics data integration will explore how to drive biomarker discovery and therapeutic development.
Complementary Skills Training: From scientific communication and research ethics to gender perspectives and career planning, we aim to equip young researchers with a well-rounded skillset.
DISCO-I Network Synergy (May 15): DISCO-I Doctoral Candidates will present their work and share tips for successful PhD journeys under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions framework.
📍 Location
Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC)
Salle Hervé Paris
1 Avenue Jean Poulhès
31432 Toulouse, France
🤝 A Shared Vision
The joint meeting between PICKED (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01, GA 101168626) and DISCO-I (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-ID, GA 101072828) exemplifies the spirit of European collaboration in personalized medicine and nephrology. By uniting forces, we accelerate scientific excellence and create stronger bridges between academia, clinics, and industry.
💬 Stay Connected
We’ll be sharing highlights and insights from the meeting on our official channels.
📲 Follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) for updates.
🧪 Together, we drive innovation in kidney research.
PICKED Celebrates World Kidney Day at Hospital Rangueil, Toulouse
14.03.2025
On the occasion of World Kidney Day, the RF lab team at Hospital Rangueil, Toulouse, actively engaged the public in raising awareness about kidney health. The event aimed at educating attendees on kidney functions, risks of kidney diseases, preventive measures, and current treatment methods.
During this educational event, participants had the opportunity to interact directly with lab members, gaining valuable insights into kidney health. Topics covered included kidney diseases, kidney stones, and general kidney functionality. Additionally, an interactive quiz tested attendees' knowledge about kidneys. Can you answer these correctly?
Kidney Health Quiz:
1. Are we able to live with only one kidney?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Yes, but only for a few months
2. The principal roles of the kidney are:
a) Filter the blood and eliminate waste.
b) Produce hormones and vitamins.
c) Maintain a good proportion of water in the organism.
3. What is the water proportion in our bodies?
a) 20%
b) 40%
c) 60%
4. Everyday our kidneys filter a quantity of blood of approximately:
a) 5 liters
b) 70 liters
c) 350 liters
5. End-stage kidney disease is defined when kidneys work less than:
a) 50%
b) 30%
c) 15%
6. Renal failure is called ‘silent’ because:
a) You can’t hear kidneys with a stethoscope when they malfunction.
b) It progresses slowly and without apparent symptoms.
c) It affects vocal cords.
7. What is a kidney stone?
a) Crystals that block urinary tracts.
b) Stones consumed and passed towards the kidney.
c) The formula to calculate renal function.
Think you know the answers? Write us to find out: projectpicked@proton.me
Let's keep spreading awareness and knowledge about kidney health together!
World Kidney Day: Raising Awareness & Advancing Personalized Medicine in CKD
13.03.2025
Understanding the Burden of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a global health crisis affecting over 850 million people worldwide. That’s twice the number of individuals living with diabetes and more than 20 times those affected by HIV/AIDS. Despite its prevalence, awareness about kidney health remains critically low, leading to late diagnoses and limited treatment options for many patients.
At PICKED (Personalized Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease), we recognize the urgent need for better prevention, early detection, and innovative treatments to improve outcomes for those living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
How PICKED is Driving Innovation
Advancing Personalized Medicine
PICKED is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network committed to training the next generation of kidney researchers. Our goal is to develop precision medicine approaches that improve early detection, disease progression monitoring, and treatment strategies for CKD.
Cutting-Edge Research
Through biomarker discovery, bioinformatics, and patient-centered research, our international team of 10 beneficiaries and 10 associated partners across Europe is working to revolutionize kidney care.
Collaborative Efforts for a Healthier Future
By combining expertise from nephrology, molecular biology, and healthcare innovation, we strive to bridge the gap between research and clinical application, ensuring that patients receive the most effective, individualized treatments possible.
What You Can Do This World Kidney Day
- Educate yourself – Understand the risk factors and symptoms of kidney disease.
- Advocate for change – Support policies that prioritize kidney disease research and treatment access.
- Spread awareness – Share this article and engage in conversations about kidney health.
Kidney health is vital to overall well-being, yet it often doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. Let’s work together to change that!
Join us in raising awareness for kidney disease and supporting personalized medicine in nephrology.
PICKED & DISCO-I Joint Meeting in Toulouse: Advancing Kidney Research Together
Gaspard Delaruelle
10.03.2025
We are pleased to announce the upcoming PICKED & DISCO-I Joint Meeting, set to take place from May 13–15, 2025, at the Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC) in Toulouse, France. This three-day event will bring together doctoral candidates, leading experts, and distinguished speakers from across Europe to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and advance research in kidney disease and innovative omics technologies.
A Platform for Scientific Exchange and Innovation
The PICKED (Personalized Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease) and DISCO-I (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-ID) projects are committed to training a new generation of researchers in nephrology and omics-based approaches. This joint meeting will serve as a key milestone in strengthening interdisciplinary research and providing participants with valuable skills in personalized medicine.
Agenda Highlights
The event features an engaging program, including:
🔹 Doctoral Candidate Presentations: An opportunity for PICKED and DISCO-I researchers to showcase their work and receive feedback from experts.
🔹 Workshops on Kidney Disease & Omics Technologies: Covering topics such as renal replacement therapy, metagenomics, biomarker discovery, and integrating omics data for drug discovery.
🔹 Clinical and Translational Research Discussions: Addressing acute and chronic kidney disease, pediatric and rare kidney diseases, and patient-centered research.
🔹 Professional Development & Ethics Training: Covering research ethics, effective scientific communication, and career planning.
Renowned speakers, including Julie Klein, Franz Schaefer, Raymond Vanholder, Peter Rossing, and Harald Mischak, will contribute their expertise, ensuring a dynamic and thought-provoking program.
Strengthening Research Networks
Beyond the scientific sessions, the meeting will facilitate networking and collaboration among participants. Attendees will have the chance to engage in discussions, share best practices, and explore opportunities for future research partnerships.
Harnessing AI for Research Productivity: Key Takeaways from Our Online Seminar
07.03.2025
The integration of artificial intelligence into research is revolutionizing the way scholars discover, analyze, and present information. On February 21, 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting an insightful online seminar titled "(Ethical) AI & Productivity Solutions for Research." Led by Sajjad Biglari, a PICKED Doctoral Candidate, the session explored the growing role of AI in research and provided participants with a toolkit of powerful digital resources.
With the ever-increasing volume of academic literature and data-driven research, AI offers innovative ways to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and improve the overall quality of scholarly work. However, these benefits come with important ethical considerations, particularly regarding data integrity, bias, and responsible AI usage. The seminar aimed to strike a balance between technological advancement and research ethics, offering practical insights to attendees.
AI in Research: Transforming Productivity
During the session, participants were introduced to a structured research workflow where AI can play a pivotal role. From literature review to data extraction, analysis, and writing, AI-powered tools can significantly reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing researchers to focus on critical thinking and innovation.
From Discovery to Writing: A Smarter Research Process
One of the key takeaways was how AI can support researchers across different stages of their work:
Literature Review & Understanding Connections: Tools like Elicit, Consensus, Afforai, STORM, and SCISPACE help researchers find and summarize relevant academic papers quickly, reducing the burden of sifting through countless publications manually.
Identifying Related Research: AI-powered platforms such as Connected Papers, Research Rabbit, Litmaps, and scite.ai enable researchers to explore how different studies interconnect, offering a visual map of relevant literature.
Data Extraction & Summarization: AI models like Mapify, NotebookLM, and ChatGPT’s AutoExpert Academic assist in summarizing complex papers, making it easier to extract key findings and insights.
Data Analysis & Visualization: Research often involves working with large datasets, and AI tools such as Julius help analyze and visualize data effectively, leading to more accurate and compelling presentations.
Writing, Citing, and Proofreading: Writing assistance tools like Jenni.ai and SCISPACE offer real-time suggestions to improve clarity and coherence in academic papers.
Beyond AI, the session also highlighted traditional research tools that continue to be invaluable, such as Zotero for reference management, Notion and Obsidian for note-taking, BioRender for scientific illustrations, and TERA tools for systematic reviews.
Ethical AI Use in Research: The Responsibility of Scholars
While AI provides immense benefits, it is not without its challenges. A key discussion point was the ethical considerations researchers must take into account when integrating AI into their workflow. As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, issues such as data bias, misinterpretation of results, and the potential for AI-generated misinformation require careful oversight.
The seminar also explored the issue of AI-generated text detection, referencing recent studies on how AI content is often misidentified by detection tools. Researchers were encouraged to use AI responsibly, ensuring proper citation of AI-generated insights and maintaining transparency in their methodologies.
Further Exploration
The seminar provided an engaging discussion on the future of AI in research, leaving attendees with valuable insights and tools to enhance their productivity. As AI continues to evolve, embracing it thoughtfully and ethically will be key to ensuring its positive impact on academia.
For updates on future events, workshops, and advancements in research, stay connected with our network!
Report: EP PerMed hosts first conference on personalised medicine research
(c) Detlef Eden
24.02.2025 by Jeremy Power
Last week, the European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed)hosted their first conference on personalised medicine research in Berlin. It was an ideal setting for experts to share their current research and discuss the value of personalised medicine in a changing global healthcare system. It was also an opportunity for the coordinator and project leads of EP PerMed to present the mission and objectives of one of Europe’s leading partnerships for PM.
EP PerMed continues the work of ERA PerMed (2017–2023) as a coordinating platform to align research and funding for personalised medicine research projects and is supported by national and regional funding agencies and the European Commission.
The conference held a number of workshops and keynote speakers from different disciplines and research groups. The sessions included discussions on personalised prevention of at-risk patients, the use of artificial intelligence in digital twins and clinical consultations, and advancements in biomarker-driven treatment. There was an important session on personalised medicine in paediatric nephrotic syndrome and the use of -omics technology to stratify paediatric disease to allow for targeted treatments. The discussion of the scientific and implementation techniques of these projects offered valuable insights for similar applications in the PICKED project.
During the presentations and debates, there were repeated concerns that current data regulations cause delays in research projects, especially when working with international cohorts. Many participants called for less confusing regulatory pathways and a harmonised legal landscape. In addition, researchers shared their struggles of implementing basic research into the clinic. For example, there were concerns that the clinical uptake of personalised medicine innovations is slow and variable across EU member states. This could be partly due to a lack of interest to pursue the implementation of existing innovations, as this part of the research process is often more difficult and less financially feasible. Thus, there was a call for more research protocols to include implementation methods. Some participants suggested that EP PerMed extend funding periods to ensure that innovations are funded from inception to clinical use.
These concerns of data regulation and implementation are nothing new in the field of personalised medicine. Indeed, neither is the debate of whether ethics are a help or a hinderance to biomedical research. However, it was interesting to reflect on the absence of ethical reflection on these topics. Bioethical guidance plays an essential role in ensuring that the rights and needs of patients are protected while data sharing practices are streamlined. Bioethics should be considered as a means to improve the efficiency of implementation of personalised medicine, rather than being seen as frustrating “red tape” that restricts it. It is an opportunity to support good research by continuously involving alternative perspectives, making biomedical research more robust and aligned with patient needs. This readies research for its intended clinical purpose and may increase its uptake by healthcare professionals.
To conclude, the conference allowed for new collaborations with young and experienced researchers across the world. These connections are invaluable to understand the research process from different disciplines, to engage with the specific challenges of personalised medicine research and to realise the goals of improving the health and wellbeing of patients.
I am very grateful to EP PerMed for organising the conference and to the PICKED project for the opportunity to attend the conference, and I hope to bring what I have learnt into my research and to the PICKED team.
New PICKED Project Publication on Computational Drug Repositioning!
17.02.2025
We are thrilled to announce a new PICKED project publication, exploring the potential of computational drug repositioning in tackling cardiorenal disease!
The search for new therapeutic uses of existing drugs has gained increasing momentum, offering a promising pathway to accelerate drug discovery and bring innovative treatments to patients faster. This article highlights cutting-edge bioinformatics, omics data integration, and network-based modeling approaches to identify novel therapeutic opportunities.
Despite significant progress, challenges remain in translating computational findings into real-world clinical applications. The study proposes targeted strategies to overcome these barriers, ensuring that repositioned drugs reach patients in need.
🔗 Read the full article here: DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202400109
This publication is another milestone for PICKED, reinforcing our mission to drive translational research, precision medicine, and clinical innovation. Stay tuned for more groundbreaking research!
Second PICKED Project publication on Clinical Proteomics!
11.02.2025
We are excited to share the second publication supported by the PICKED project, focusing on the evolution and challenges of clinical proteomics in healthcare!
With over 40,000 scientific publications, the field has seen significant progress, yet clinical application remains limited. This article critically examines the barriers preventing proteomics from translating into routine patient care and emphasizes the need for a patient-centric approach. We propose concrete solutions to align research efforts with clinical utility, ensuring that proteomics delivers on its promise to improve disease management and treatment.
🔗 Read the full article here: DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202400346
This publication marks another important milestone for PICKED, strengthening our mission to drive translational research, personalized medicine, and real-world healthcare advancements. Stay tuned for more impactful research!
We are excited to share the first publication from the PICKED project, authored by our colleagues in Madrid!
03.02.2025
The article, published in PubMed, explores the potential of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) as transformative agents in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), obesity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). These medications, including liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide, have shown significant benefits in metabolic control, weight reduction, and cardiovascular protection, making them an important consideration for nephrologists.
🔗 Read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39583142/
This marks an exciting milestone for the PICKED project, contributing valuable insights to the intersection of nephrology, metabolic health, and personalized medicine. Stay tuned for more publications to come!
PICKED Kick-off
18.10.2024
We just wrapped up a fantastic virtual kick-off meeting for the PICKED project! By hosting it online, we’re not only bringing our team together from across Europe but also reducing our carbon footprint. We’re excited about the journey ahead and will keep you updated on our progress. Stay tuned for more developments in personalized care and collaborative research!
