Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD

The long-standing expertise in identifying risk factors and the availability of large, prospective, long-term follow-up of patient-based and population-based cohorts (such as LifeLines) and the collaboration with the Department of Genetics enables extensive sub-programs, including exposomics, (epi)genome-wide association, genome-wide interactions and transcriptome sequencing studies. This has resulted in the identification of numerous novel genetic loci related to asthma and COPD onset and progression.

Identification of disease susceptibility and progression markers

Proteomic and lipidomic research has led us to the identification of disease susceptibility and progression markers. We have a long-standing collaboration with the proteomics facility and recently incorporated our first member from the European Research Institute on the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), strengthening our focus on bioinformatic analyses of integrated genomic datasets.

We are actively engaged in studies linking clinical outcomes to pathophysiology, also on a molecular basis. A good example is that based on outcomes from omics studies, we investigate the functionality of genes and proteins in lung diseases using molecular approaches:

• in cells and tissues from patients,
• in cell lines
• and in animal models.

We also explore intracellular and intercellular pathways for

• tissue repair,
• disease development, progression and remission,
• exploration of novel drug targets.

We use in vivo and in vitro models, including complex disease models such as organoids, lung hydrogels and organ-on-chip models, to unravel mechanisms of disease and novel drug targets. Drug targets identified as such are potential new starting points for therapeutics, which we develop in collaboration with different partners, for example with the department of Pharmacy, or with Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry.

Patient-centered research is at the heart of our research. Our translational approach includes​​​​​

• clinical and intervention studies in allergy, food allergy, asthma and COPD.

• large-scale clinical management in primary care,

We are slowly moving towards precision medicine in obstructive and pulmonary disease. Our research programme is in an excellent position to incorporate genomic markers in intervention studies. We are actively engaged in the development of clinical questionnaires for disease diagnosis and monitoring of disease control. Pulmonary rehabilitation and novel bronchoscopic intervention techniques are evaluated for the treatment of COPD.

In 2012 a GRIAC investigator led the first large-scale intervention study of tiotropium in asthma.

To learn from patients and to get a better understanding of the disease from their perspective, we organize 3-monthly patient advisory board meetings to incorporate input from patients into new projects and reflect on completed projects. We have expanded the role of the patient advisory board to also provide their perspective in the MSc/PhD course Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases, highlighting the translational work in GRIAC.

• Together with the  Netherlands Respi​​ratory Society, we aim to use basic, clinical, and translational research to reduce the burden and prevent the development of respiratory diseases. This includes all respiratory diseases, both common diseases such as asthma, COPD and lung cancer, as well as rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung diseases.

• The National Lung Research Program, an initiative from the NRS, aims to prevent and treat lung diseases. The program has led to the establishment of a national consortium called Precision Medicine for more Oxygen (P4O2), in which several GRIAC investigators play an active role and that aims at better treatment for all patients​​​​​​​