The PRO-EURO-DILI-NET consortium, which also included the Laboratory of Biophysics team from the Division of Optics, was evaluated as the best project within the COST Action programme. The international research project focused on the issue of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), which represents one of the main challenges in the development of new drugs. The project now continues as part of the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL) within the Horizon Europe program.
COST Actions are international research networks funded for four years, which bring together scientists across borders, disciplines and sectors to solve common challenges and advance scientific knowledge and innovation in Europe.
The PRO-EURO-DILI-NET consortium, which also included the Laboratory of Biophysics team from the Division of Optics, was evaluated as the best project within the COST Action programme. The international research project focused on the issue of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), which represents one of the main challenges in the development of new drugs. The project now continues as part of the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL) within the Horizon Europe program.
COST Actions are international research networks funded for four years, which bring together scientists across borders, disciplines and sectors to solve common challenges and advance scientific knowledge and innovation in Europe.
Key project outputs
A significant contribution, facilitated also by the Laboratory of Biophysics team, was the creation of innovative liver organoids, which are miniaturized models of the human liver. These organoids allow for more efficient drug testing and may in the future reduce the need for animal testing. “The development of liver organoids represents a breakthrough in the field of drug testing and personalized medicine. Our work shows how we can effectively simulate liver functions and minimize dependence on animal models,” said Oleg Lunov, head of the Laboratory of Biophysics.
Another major success of the project was the creation of a standardized approach to the diagnosis and treatment of DILI and the creation of an extensive patient database. These outputs enabled the development of EASL clinical guidelines, which became the first unified protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of DILI at the European level.
Why is DILI research important?
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a condition in which medications, herbal products, or dietary supplements cause liver damage. The idiosyncratic form of DILI, in particular, is unpredictable because it is not directly dose-dependent and may only become apparent after weeks of use. This type of DILI poses a significant risk for clinical practice and the pharmaceutical industry. PRO-EURO-DILI-NET was therefore created as an international platform bringing together academic experts, the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory authorities and patient organisations with the aim of better understanding this issue and directly influencing clinical practice. “The project shows how crucial international collaboration across disciplines is. Only through the international connection of top experts can we effectively address such complex issues and advance medical research to a new level,” added Alexandr Dejneka, head of the Division of Optics.
What’s next?
As part of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, the project now focuses not only on the effects of drugs on the liver, but also on herbal products and dietary supplements, whose effects on the liver are often insufficiently explored. This expanded research aims to better protect patients and provide physicians and regulatory authorities with more reliable tools for assessing the safety of these substances.