The InGenious HyperCare Network of Excellence's goal is that of integrating complementary but still fragmented experience in the mechanisms of blood pressure control and hypertension development, in phenotyping initiation and progression of organ damage and exploring genetics, genomics and proteomics of proneness to hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular disease. A better prevention of hypertension and its cardiovascular consequences is an essential public health goal in Europe, where cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality and morbility. The Network plans to integrate the research efforts of 31 research teams (including a SME) and 1 SME experienced in EC project management. A powerful instrument of integration will be the Programme of Joint Research Activities. A first group of research packages will be addressed to Mechanomics of Hypertension, i.e. identifying genetic, genomic and proteomic markers of disturbances in the major mechanisms (autonomic control, inflammation and oxidative stress, sodium handling) controlling blood pressure, as indicators of the risk of becoming hypertensive. The second group of research packages will be addressed to Mechanomics of Hypertension-Related Diseases, i.e. identifying the genetic, genomic and proteomic markers of the risk of developing a hypertension-related event (stroke, renal dysfunction, heart failure). Through these activities the Network will build up large integrated platforms of common phenotypes, genotypes and proteomic data in hypertensives, and assemble unique sets of comprehensive databases. Spreading of excellence beyond the Network will be done with the support of the European Society of Hypertension. The activity of the Network will continue after end of the EC funding, with the objective of contributing better diagnostic tools to identify subjects prone to hypertension, and patients prone to hypertension complications, with obvious benefits for health care in Europe.
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