CARE is Horizon2020 research project running for 2 years (1 January 2019- 31 December 2020). CARE partners represent 10 countries (Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Moldova, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia and Russian Federation) and are led by EuResist from Italy. CARE operates under a specific Horizon 2020 call aiming to foster research collaboration between the EU and the Russian Federation. Activities in the Russian Federation are financed by a grant from the Russian Ministry of Science & Higher Education and coordinated by FSBI Gamaleya. Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections (CHIP, Denmark) is responsible for the scientific coordination and communication of the project.

The CARE project brings together acclaimed scientists and highly representative European networks in the fight against HIV/TB/HCV epidemics. The project expands on previously established European cohort networks and combines extensive existing data. The long-term objective of the CARE project is the implementation of a research infrastructure that allows expansion of the activities beyond the funding frame and permits the partners to share technology, protocols, structured data collections and knowledge.

This will be ensured through several specific objectives: 

• Discover novel biomarkers of successful treatment of tuberculosis, including multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
• Explore the genetic mechanism of predisposition to extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
• Develop a decision-making support tool based on the genotypic prediction of tuberculosis drug resistance.
• Define epidemiology of drug-resistant HIV to support an evidence-based introduction of INSTIs as part of first line antiretroviral therapy.
• Determine genomic variants influencing predisposition to the development of AIDS, serious non-AIDS clinical events and adverse reactions to drugs.
• Derive best practice recommendations for the direct acting antivirals (DAA) hepatitis C treatment.

Furthermore, the CARE research results will be used to develop and distribute the highest level of expertise and competence throughout the WHO European region and facilitate the containment of the epidemics. To implement the CARE consortium vision, partners will ensure the development and realisation of evidence-based recommendations and intervention plans, establish communication with relevant stakeholders, and support dissemination and training activities.

For more information about CARE go to the project website www.careresearch.eu or contact care.rigshospitalet@regionh.dk

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 825673.