The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) took part in the Kick‑off Meeting of the European project Halt‑RONIN, held at the Royal University College María Cristina in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid) and coordinated by the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM).
This meeting brought together the international partners of the consortium with the aim of defining the work strategy, strengthening collaboration among the different research groups, and establishing the first steps for the development of the project, which focuses on improving the understanding of the mechanisms involved in chronic liver inflammation and its progression toward more severe diseases.
During the event, IDIVAL played a key role in the work package dedicated to clinical validation. The group led by Dr. Javier Crespo participated on behalf of the institute, with a presentation delivered by Paula Iruzubieta, who outlined the progress of the patient cohorts from the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital that will contribute to the project’s development.
These include the Cantabria Cohort, IMID Population, HEPAMET, APOLLO‑NASH, EMOTION, DIS/NAFL, and SteatoSITE, which will provide highly valuable clinical information for the identification and validation of biomarkers related to inflammatory liver diseases.
Throughout the meeting, the various partners presented their research lines, ranging from cellular and animal models to organoid studies, systems biology tools, artificial intelligence, and patient cohorts. Key aspects related to project management, scientific coordination, and compliance with the ethical requirements established by the European Commission were also addressed.
Participants agreed on the importance of strengthening communication and collaboration among the working groups to achieve the project’s scientific objectives and maximize the impact of its results.
The launch meeting marks the starting point for Halt‑RONIN, a project that aims to generate new knowledge on chronic liver inflammation and promote the development of innovative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, with IDIVAL playing an active role as a reference center for the clinical validation of the results obtained.
