SciFiMed contributed to the state of the art and advanced in the following fields.
>>We generated and validated recombinant FH protein family members, which will ensure reliability and reproducibility of complement and FH protein family-related research.
>> We generated new specific antibodies against FH family members and used these antibodies to optimize and develop four new immunoassays. The assays were produced in a standardized manner by one of our partners, and cross-validated across all research labs part of SciFiMed, demonstrating a high quality, reproducibility and accuracy of each.
>>The developed immunoassays have been successfully launched to the market in 2024 as research use only kits, together with unique, specific antibodies for four FHR proteins.
>>We identified binding partners of distinct FH family members and used these to develop novel tools to study the function of the FH protein family.
>> We developed novel assays to determine the overall functional activity of the complement system, as well as a specific FH functional assay, that is easy-to-use, inexpensive and up-scalable. This will make currently used unreliable and animal-hostile erythrocytes-based activity assays obsolete.
>> We established proof-of-principle of an innovative multiplex lateral flow assay allowing simultaneous quantification of FHR proteins. This novel method allows for rapid detection while requiring minimal volume and is a critical technical advancement towards our envisioned multiplex biosensor.
>> Using the new reagents and tools developed during the project, several new insights in FH protein biology were achieved:
1) for the first time, all FH protein family members were specifically measured in a single cohort of healthy donors, establishing normal ranges and physiological ratios, linked to common genetic variations found in the population;
2) novel disease-associated variants of FHR proteins were identified and functionally characterized;
3) complement regulatory activity of FHR proteins was further refined;
4) the presence of FHR proteins in different body fluids (besides blood plasma) was demonstrated;
5) disease-associated changes in circulating and local tissue concentrations were identified across different disease cohorts, shedding light on the role of the FH protein family in diseases;
6) new physiological binding ligands were identified for each protein, guiding new research into their in vivo function.
Overall, these achievements contribute significantly to our understanding of the FH protein family and their implications in disease. By overcoming challenges and making important discoveries, SciFiMed moves closer to the goal of enabling personalized medicine with the promise to make a change to healthcare.
In summary, SciFiMed successfully completed all eight work package-related objectives, providing 41 deliverables and achieving three major milestones. The results have thus far been presented via 36 posters and 32 oral presentations at various (inter)national scientific meetings and conferences, published in fifteen open access research articles, and have already led to one patent application, with more anticipated in the near future.
