Title: GRACE: The First Network of Excellence on Primary Care in Europe Herman Goossens Coordinator
1GRACEThe First Network of Excellence on Primary
Care in EuropeHerman GoossensCo-ordinator
2GRACE
- From molecule to management in
community-acquired LRTI - GRACE as a model for translating scientific
innovation into benefits for patients
3GRACE Aim
- The overall aim of GRACE is to combat
antimicrobial resistance through integrating and
strengthening centres of excellence for studying
the application of genomics with primary care
practitioners, to community-acquired lower
respiratory tract infections (LRTI), which is the
leading reason for seeking medical care and
consuming antibiotics. - GRACE will develop into a European Lower
Respiratory Tract Infection Research Centre to
investigate and improve the bed-site management
of community-acquired LRTI.
4The Target Community-acquired LRTI in GRACE
- Acute cough syndrome
- Acute bronchitis
- Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)
- Infective exacerbations of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) - Infective exacerbations of asthma
5GRACE Facts and Figures
- Period of funding March 1, 2006 February 28,
2011 - Grant for integration 11.5 million Euro
- Co-ordinating centre University of Antwerp,
Belgium - Partners from 14 countries
- Full partners 24 from 10 countries (including 5
SMEs from 3 countries) - Primary Care Networks 13 from 11 countries
6GRACE Four Platforms
- GRACE-COMIT
- WP1 Co-ordination, Organisation, Management
- WP2 IT infrastructure
- GRACE-TECH
- WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6, WP7 Technical platform
- GRACE-PAT
- WP8, WP9, WP10, WP11 Patient platform
- GRACE-EDUT
- WP12 Education and Training platform
7GRACE-COMIT
- WP N Workpackage Lead Partner
-
-
- 1 Project co-ordination and Herman Goossens
- management University of Antwerp,
- Belgium
- (and University of Leiden,
- Netherlands)
-
- 2 Develop IT platform and tools for Robert Veen
- information technology University of Utrecht,
- Netherlands
-
8GRACE-TECH
WP N Workpackage Lead Partner 3 Microbial
genomics for diagnosis of Greet
Ieven community-acquired LRTI University of
Antwerp, Belgium 4 Human genomics for
studying Adrian Hill risk factors University
of Oxford, United Kingdom 5 Virus
discovery Willy Spaan University of
Leiden, Netherlands 6 Pneumococcal genomics
Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Swedish Institute
for Infectious Disease Control, Sweden
7 Haemophilus genomics Derrick
Crook University of Oxford, United Kingdom
9GRACE-PAT
- WP N Workpackage Lead Partner
-
-
- 8 Observational study on determinants
Christopher Butler - of antibiotic use Cardiff University,
- United Kingdom
- 9 Observational studies on aetiology, Theo
Verheij - diagnosis and prognosis University of Utrecht,
- Netherlands
- 10 Randomised control trials Paul Little
- University of Southampton,
- United Kingdom
- 11 Economics of resistance Joanna Coast,
- University of Birmingham,
- Richard Smith
- University of East Anglia,
10GRACE-EDUT
- WP N Workpackage Lead Partner
-
-
- 12 Education and training Francesco Blasi
- University of Milan,
- Italy
- Roger Finch
- University of Nottingham,
- United Kingdom
11WP1 Objectives
- To provide a secure framework to ensure that the
objectives of the work programme are complied
with - To achieve the expected degree of integration
through the joint programme of activities - To interact with the Commission, press and public
- To setup a business centre
- To prepare financial contracts and consortium
agreement - To ensure the optimal use of the generated
knowledge within the scientific community and the
public - To manage staff mobility within the Network
- To manage quality control
- To develop a durable network beyond the period of
the Commissions financial support
12WP1 Description of the Work
- Provision of a secure framework for structural
decisions - Management of flow of patient samples and
isolates - Management of quality control
- Management of staff mobility
- Monitoring the progress of the workpackages
- Setting up a business centre
- Preparing financial contracts, consortium
agreement - External communication
13WP1 Expected Achievements
- A high quality organisation and management
14WP2 Objectives
- To co-ordinate and harmonise the IT platform.
- To develop a Data Processing Centre
- To develop a web-based content management system
- To develop the GRACE portal
- To develop a technical framework access control
management - To develop a technical security and privacy
concept and framework - To engineer support for the development of
database schemata for repositories - To engineer support for the development of
web-based case report forms (CRFs) - To develop data export functions for statistical
evaluation - Technical maintenance of Data Processing Centre
15WP2 Description of the Work
- Co-ordination and harmonisation of IT platform.
- Development of a Data Processing Centre
- Development of web-based content management
system. - Development of the GRACE portal
- Development of a technical platform for access
control management - Development of a technical security and privacy
concept and framework - Engineering support for the development of
database schemata for repositories - Engineering support for the development of
web-based case report forms - Support of data export functions for statistical
evaluation - Technical maintenance of Data Processing Centre
16WP2 Expected Achievements
- A high quality IT infrastructure
17WP3 Objectives
- To develop novel rapid genome based diagnostic
tests for the detection of pathogens implicated
in community-acquired LRTI - To develop reference reagents and an external
quality assessment programme for molecular
diagnostic methods for patients with
community-acquired LRTI - To establish a European repository of specimens
and strains linked to a database including
microbial and patient information
18WP3 Description of the Work
- Diagnostics
- Inventory of diagnostic (molecular) methods in
the participating laboratories - Establishing banks of fully characterised
respiratory pathogens - Development of reference reagents, calibrated
stocks and run controls - Development and distribution of proficiency
panels for external quality assessment - Development and optimisation of molecular methods
for aetiological diagnosis - Clinical validation of the novel technology
- Repositories
- Development of a bank of clinical materials from
well-defined patients with community-acquired
LRTI - Development of a bank of well characterised
clinical isolates of respiratory pathogens
19WP3 Expected Achievements
- Novel rapid genome based diagnostic tests for the
detection of pathogens implicated in
community-acquired LRTI - European repository of specimens and strains
linked to a database including microbial and
patient information
20WP4 Objectives
- To devise the potential genetic risk profile for
community-acquired LRTI - To assess whether these polymorphisms identify
individuals at risk of various presentations and
outcomes of community-acquired LRTI in several
European populations - To determine whether these human genetic risk
factors interact with each other or with key
microbial genetic or other environmental risk
factors for community-acquired LRTI - To identify potential target pathways for new
immunomodulatory approaches
21WP4 Description of the Work
- Two case-control studies
- First case-control study (years 1-3)
- Genotyping of severe community-acquired LRTI
cases and controls from the UK by Illumina
Beadarray high throughput typing for 30,000
coding SNPs with a minimum allele frequency gt5
that span the entire human genome - Define the 30 most strongly associated SNPs
- Define the causative variants in these relevant
genes - Second case-control study (years 3 - 5)
- Retesting of the 30 most strongly associated SNPs
in a larger study of about 6000 cases and locally
matched controls from 6 European sites by
Sequenom mass spectrometry or microarray - Genotyping of specific loci of particular
interest such as Ig receptors, cytokines,
cytokine receptors, acute phase reactants,
collectins, toll receptors, chemokines,
inflammatory signalling pathway components,
macrophage and neutrophil receptors.
22WP4 Expected Achievements
- Genetic risk factors for (particular) phenotypes
of community-acquired pneumonia (caused by
certain pathogens)
23WP5 Objectives
- To align RNA viruses to identify conserved
domains for primer selection - To optimise the CODEHOP programme for the
selection of degenerated CODEHOP primers - To construct test systems using amplicons created
with consensus and CODEHOP primers - To validate test systems for screening clinical
samples - To identify the genomes and characterise new
viruses
24WP5 Description of the Work
- Two amplification-based strategies
- Nested Primers Primagens PALM Method
- Generic and specific primers located within the
first amplicon - Sequencing of obtained second amplicon of about
500 to 600 nucleotides - CODEHOP-based approach
- Primers with a non-degenerate 5' end and
degenerate 3' end - Primers designed using a method based on the
CODEHOP programme - Bioinformatics-based improvements of the CODEHOP
- Principal target RNA dependent RNA polymerase of
three major genera of the Nidovirales - Validation of the developed techniques
- Adaptation to encompass other virus genera
25WP5 Expected Achievements
- New tools to detect novel or previously unknown
viral pathogens in clinical specimens form
patients with community-acquired LRTI
26WP6 Objectives
- To correlate antibiotic resistance, virulence
characteristics and pneumococcal genotype to
severity of community-acquired LRTI -
- To identify pneumococcal genes important for
virulence and for antibiotic resistance
development
27WP6 Description of the Work
- Collection of isolates with resistance profiles
and clinical information through WP9 and WP10 - Genotypic determination of new resistance
determinants - Serotyping and genotyping of relevant (virulent)
pneumococci - Correlating antibiotic resistance profile and
genotype to clinical parameters with the aim of
finding certain clones that are more virulent and
prone to spread - Study of known pathogenicity islands as well as
horizontally acquired genes important for
resistance development by comparative genomics
using microarray chips, and correlate to
clonality and clinical information. - Deletion of relevant genes by performing knockout
mutants and study for virulence in various models
(tissue culture, animal, etc)
28WP6 Expected Achievements
- Pneumococcal genes important for virulence and
for antibiotic resistance development
29WP7 Objectives
- To determine the relationship between antibiotic
usage and prevalence of resistance in Europe
among infecting and colonising haemophili, as
determined by resistance genes encoded by - integrating conjugative mobile elements, and
- chromosomal genes
- Determine the phylogenetic relationships between
conjugative elements and their host bacteria - Determine the prevalence and distribution of
hypermutable H. influenzae clinical isolates in
Europe - Determine the European variation in the
prevalence in clinical settings and carriers of
capsulated isolates, their molecular epidemiology
and their resistance mechanism
30WP7 Description of the Work
- Collection of H. influenzae from clinical samples
and Haemophilus species from throat samples,
through WP9 (prevalence of resistance) and WP10
(impact of use) - Determination of species by conventional methods
and 16S RNA sequence analysis - Phenotypic characterisation of antibiotic
resistance (MIC) - Genotypic characterisation of antibiotic
resistance by multiplex PCR (conjugative
elements), PCR and sequencing (chromosomal
elements) - Multi-locus sequence analysis of the resistance
elements and host bacteria - Study of the prevalence of mechanisms of
hypermutability (i.e. mutations in the DNA repair
system, mutS and mutL). - Capsular typing of representative H. influenzae
isolates by molecular procedures
31WP7 Expected Achievements
- Relationship between antibiotic usage and
prevalence of antibiotic resistance encoded by a
conjugative and chromosomal genes - Phylogenetic relationships between conjugative
elements and their host bacteria - Prevalence of hypermutable H. influenzae clinical
isolates in Europe - Prevalence and characterisation of capsulated H.
influenzae isolates
32Flow of Specimens and Isolates among Academic
Participants and SMEs
Instituto de tecnologia Quimica e Biologica H.
De Lencastre
Universität Kaiserslautern R. Hakenbeck
Instituto de Salud Carlos III J. Campos
MRC-Holland The Netherlands J.P. Schouten
University of Leiden E. Claas
University of Utrecht A. Van Loon
AmpTec GmbH Germany G. Krupp
PathoFinider The Netherlands G. Simons
Coris BioConcept Belgium T. Leclipteux
Primagen The Netherlands P. van den Broek
Rigshospitalet P. Garred
Karolinska Institute S. Normark
University of Oxford WP4 A. Hill
University of Antwerp WP3 M. Ieven
University of Leiden WP5 W. Spaan
Swedish Institute for Infectious
Disease Control WP6 B. Henriques-Normark
University of Oxford WP7 D. Crook
Human specimens
Human specimens
S. pneumoniae
Human specimens
H. influenzae
Project Managemant Office University of
Antwerp WP1 H. Goossens
Human specimens
Microbial isolates
National Co-ordinating Diagnostic
Laboratories WP9, WP10
Human specimens
Human specimens
Primary Care Networks
Hospitals
33WP8 Objectives
- To establish a collaboration of primary care
research networks in Europe - To describe current presentation, investigation,
management and outcomes for patients with
community-acquired LRTI in primary care in Europe - To achieve a deep understanding of the
micro-level determinants and contextual factors
that influence antibiotic prescription/management
for community-acquired LRTI - To develop evidence-based definitions for
community-acquired LRTI
34Primary Care Networks
35Primary Care Networks Participating in WP8 (I)
- Country N practices/ Co-ordinator Facilitator
- N GPs
- Belgium 25/50 Samuel Coenen Samuel Coenen
-
- Finland 5-10/50-150 Ulla-Maija Rautakorpi
Ulla-Maija Rautakorpi -
- Germany 15-25/15-25 Tom Schaberg Konstanze
Voigt -
- Hungary 25/20 Bernadette Kovacs Bernadette
Kovacs -
- Italy 20/15 Francesco Blasi Francesco Blasi
- Netherlands 7/35 Theo Verheij Eelko Hak
-
36Primary Care Networks Participating in WP8 (II)
Country N practices/ Co-ordinator Facilitator
N GPs Norway 8/32 Carol Pascoe Hasse
Melbye Poland 5/10 Maciek Godycki-Cwirko Maci
ek Godycki-Cwirko Spain 20/6 Jordi Almirall
Jordi Almirall 15/6 Antoni Torres Ruano
Nuria Sanchez Sweden 10/40 Bo-Eric Sigvard
Mölstad Malmvall Futurum UK 25/60
Christopher Butler Richard Hibbs 8/24
Michael Moore Michael Moore
37WP8 Description of the Work Quantitative,
registration study
- 13 PC networks in 11 countries have been selected
(minimum of 20,000 patients) - Computerised or paper standardised formats
- Consecutive enrolment of 300 patients/network
consulting with acute cough - Data collection (patients and primary care
clinicians) over two one-month periods (February
and September)
38WP8 Description of the WorkQualitative in depth
study
- Stratification of practices and samples to
maximise variation - Training of researchers in qualitative
interviewing - Interview study, exploring
- PC Clinicians accounts of management of patients
with community-acquired LRTI - Patients accounts of their experiences and
beliefs about medical management of LRTI - Data analysis according to the procedures of
Grounded Theory
39WP8 Description of the Work Developing
definitions
- Multi-step evidence-based development of
definitions with - internationally agreed clinical (signs and
symptoms) and technical - (radiological and microbiological) criteria for
the target diseases - Empirical research (the quantitative study will
provide the platform to - describe syndromes and clinical presentation)
- ?
- Literature searching
- ?
- Expert opinion to enhance the empirical research
and literature - searching
- ?
- Consensus groups (using modified Delphi
technique) - ?
- Face validity (the qualitative study will provide
the platform to confront - the definitions with clinical reality)
40WP8 Expected Achievements
- Description and a deep understanding of the
variation in presentation, investigation,
management and outcomes of community-acquired
LRTI - Pilot specimen collection, procedures and inform
study methods for WP9, WP10, WP11 - Identification of good practice and factors which
predispose and maintain this good practice, that
may be generalised in later intervention studies
(WP10) and education and training initiatives
(WP12) - Areas in which practice could be enhanced and
targets for interventions aimed at improving
antibiotic prescribing/management, and inform the
prioritising, the nature and location of the
intervention studies (WP10) - An instrument to measure change in attitude,
knowledge and beliefs about common infections and
their management (WP10) - Provide data for modelling studies (WP11)
- Definitions on which to base later
observational, intervention and modelling studies
(WP9, WP10 and WP11)
41WP9 Objectives
- To study the role of atypical bacteria and
viruses, including novel pathogens, in patients
with community-acquired LRTI - To assess risk factors for infection with
(resistant) S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in
patients with community-acquired LRTI - To develop clinical models to differentiate viral
from bacterial infections and identify pneumonia - To develop clinical models to identify patients
at risk for adverse outcomes including severe and
prolonged illness
42WP9 Description of the WorkSetting
- Same cohort for all objectives of WP9 (and for
the randomised clinical trial of WP10) - About 6 large computerised primary care research
networks across the EU - representative populations for the main regions
in Europe - affiliated with major hospitals.
- Protocols for inclusion of study subjects and
data collection developed in other WP - Inclusion criteria will be tailored to the
definitions developed in WP8
43WP9 Description of the WorkThree types of
investigations
- An aetiological study
- A case-control study nested in the predefined
cohorts of each national network - - cohorts of approximately 2,400 adults and
elderly/network - - nested random sample of 25 of the cohort
(approximately 600/network) - Blood and urine sampling, nose-throat swabs for
GRACE-TECH - Pulmonary measurements
- A diagnostic cross-sectional study
- Starting point baseline of the aetiological
study - Cases with suspected community-acquired LRTI (max
of about 500 cases/network) - Blood and urine sampling, nose-throat swabs for
GRACE-TECH - Pulmonary measurements
- A prognostic study
- Starting point baseline of the diagnostic study
- Cases with confirmed community-acquired LRTI
- Follow up prospectively during 3 months
-
- All studies Web-based data collection
44WP9 Expected Achievements
- A simple clinical algorithm that can help the
primary care clinician to distinguish viral from
bacterial infections, and acute bronchitis - A simple clinical algorithm that can support the
primary care clinician to detect
community-acquired pneumonia. - A simple algorithm that will enable the primary
care clinician to discern patients with
community-acquired LRTI at risk for complications
from patients with self-limiting disease with low
risk for poor outcome - Provide data for economic modelling (WP11)
45WP10 Objectives
- To assess the effectiveness of antibiotics among
patients with community-acquired LRTI in order to
understand which subgroups selectively benefit
from antibiotic treatment - To develop and assess a practice based
intervention based on improvements of antibiotic
prescribing behaviour in patients with
community-acquired LRTI and explore the effect on
antibiotic resistance
46WP10 Description of the workTwo clinical trials
- Antibiotic randomised placebo-controlled
double-blind trial - Starting point nested in the diagnostic study
- Cases with community-acquired LRTI, not CAP (max
of about 500 cases/network) - Intervention antibiotic or placebo patients
stratified by three age groups - Bed-side patient testing
- Blood and urine sampling, nose-throat swabs for
GRACE-TECH - Pulmonary measurements
- Web-based data collection.
- Outcomes deterioration of illness symptom
severity and duration, - Outreach RCT of optimal package of care
- 30 practices/network of not low AB prescribers
- randomly chosen in each of the 6 networks (i.e.
180 practices) - Intervention academic detailing/outreach and
controls - Outcomes AB prescribing, hospitalisation, length
of illness,
47WP10 Expected Achievements
- Identification of subgroups of patients with
community-acquired LRTI who benefit from
antibiotic treatment - A practice based validated intervention for
improving antibiotic prescribing in patients with
community-acquired LRTI
48WP11 Objectives
- To model the macroeconomic impact of antibiotic
resistance and policies to contain it - To model the cost-effectiveness of the management
strategies developed in the observational studies
- To conduct economic evaluations in parallel with
the intervention studies - To conduct economic evaluations of molecular
diagnostics
49WP11 Description of the Work
- Macro-economic modelling of impact of resistance
and policies to contain it - Model Computable General Equilibrium UK
approach, extended to other European countries - Policy options derived mainly from exploration
of WP8 -
- Estimating costs and health outcomes associated
with resistant and susceptible disease - Methods
- comparisons between subjects infected with AB
resistant or susceptible bacteria, with
appropriate statistical modelling - Event History Models
- Resource use data questionnaires in WP9 and
WP10 existing routine data systems - Economic evaluation alongside intervention
studies - First 18 months develop protocols for primary
(reduction in antibiotic prescribing) and other
outcome parameters - Remainder economic evaluation
- Economic evaluation of molecular diagnostics
50WP11 Expected Achievements
- A model for the macroeconomic impact of
antibiotic resistance and policies to contain
resistance - Cost-effectiveness of the management strategies
developed in the observational and intervention
studies - Economic evaluation of molecular diagnostics
51WP12 Objectives
- To contribute information aimed at increasing
awareness among the public and policy makers of
the importance, economic impact and threat of
antimicrobial resistance - To develop education and training support to
disseminate awareness and knowledge relevant to
antibiotic resistance and its control - To develop educational packages including
web-based resources and workshops to inform
postgraduate lifelong learning needs of
prescribing professionals
52WP12 Description of the Work
- Participating scientific societies ERS and
ESCMID (organising committee) - Target audience hospital practitioners, primary
care clinicians, community pharmacists, Public
Health practitioners, and laboratory researchers - Instruments
- Teaching courses and workshops at changing
location - Educational web site Virtual Learning Centre
(VLC) consisting of a web based learning and
assessment package
53WP12 Expected Achievements
- Increasing awareness among the public and policy
makers of the threat of antimicrobial resistance - Dissemination of knowledge relevant to antibiotic
resistance and its control - Educational (web-based) postgraduate learning
packages
54Joint Programme of Activities (first 18 months)
- Establishment of the platforms
- Development and sharing of common research and
molecular diagnostic tools and methods (WP3-7) - Development of questionnaires and databases for
reagents, strains, patient specimens and data
(WP2-7) - Observational studies on current management of
community-acquired LRTI in European primary care
(WP8) - Selection of the primary care networks for WP9
and WP10 - Development and integration of data collection
for economic models (WP11)
55Joint Programme of Activities (18 months to 5
years)
- Development and application of molecular
technologies (WP3, WP5-7) - Studies on genetic risk factors (WP4)
- Observational (WP9) and intervention (WP10)
studies - Integrating the data to develop innovative
management strategies - Development and promotion of evidence-based
recommendations for an optimal treatment of
community-acquired LRTI through cost-effective
strategies - Application of economic models into microbial and
human research (WP11)
56Joint Programme of Activities(full duration)
- Spreading the excellence
- Development of computer programmes and
educational tools for continued training - Enhancing and strengthening the network
activities through looking for new partners and
finding funding sources - Collaboration with other (EU-funded) research
programmes
57Potential Applications of GRACE (I)
- Novel rapid genome based diagnostic tests for the
detection of pathogens implicated in
community-acquired LRTI - A European repository of research tools, strains,
and patient specimens linked to a database
including microbial and patient information, for
genomic diagnostics - Pneumococcal genes important for virulence and
for antibiotic resistance development - Optimal pneumococcal treatment and prevention
strategy linked to severity of community-acquired
LRTI - Human susceptibility genes affecting severe
community-acquired LRTI - Potential human target pathways for new
immunomodulatory approaches - Potential genetic risk profiles for various
presentations and outcomes of community-acquired
LRTI in several European populations - Evidence-based definitions of the major
community-acquired LRTI
58Potential Applications of GRACE (II)
- Clinical models to differentiate viral from
bacterial infections and identify pneumonia. - Clinical models to identify patients at risk for
adverse outcomes including severe and prolonged
illness - More focused management of patients with
community-acquired LRTI, through new genomic
tools, thereby resulting in better resource
utilisation - Clinical outcome measures for evaluating
interventions - Feasible, acceptable and cost-effective practise
based intervention in reducing inappropriate
antibiotic use in patients with
community-acquired LRTI - A model for the macroeconomic impact of
antibiotic resistance and policies to contain
resistance - A model for economic evaluations of molecular
diagnostics - Educational packages to inform postgraduate
lifelong learning needs of prescribing
professionals
59Long-term Impact of GRACE
- Establish the principle and practice of linking
basic science with clinical care for
community-acquired LRTI - Enhance the competitiveness of European
translational research - Link science with education and provide a focus
for spreading of excellent practice throughout
Europe - Cement future international research
collaborations linking international experts in
primary and secondary care research in
community-acquired LRTI - Contribute to EC policy developments
- Strengthen European excellence and achieve a
leadership on community-acquired LRTI
60Conclusion
- GRACE will serve as model of how different but
relevant disciplines in health care can be
integrated and combined and of how the full cycle
of translating basic science innovation into
clinical care can be achieved efficiently and
seamlessly. - GRACE will develop into a European Lower
Respiratory Tract Infection Research Centre to
investigate and improve the bed-side management
of community-acquired LRTI.