Biomarker discovery

MICROB-PREDICT: Microbiome-based biomarkers to predict decompensation of liver cirrhosis and treatment response 

The issue

End-stage liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and has a large socioeconomic impact because of high health care costs and the patients’ inability to work or seek employment. It is crucial to develop novel treatments for patients with cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

The approach

The EU-funded MICROB-PREDICT project aims to investigate the interplay between gut and liver. The MICROB-PREDICT Consortium will identify microbiome-based biomarkers associated with chronic liver disease and generate data from large patient cohorts. Collectively, this information will enable accurate patient stratification and pave the way for new personalized therapies.

The project has already a variety of biomarkers to predict ACLF development and response to different drugs and currently we are at the validation phase of these findings. The validated findings will then be translated into point-of-care tests, which will be available for physicians and help patients’ stratification. These tools have the potential to revolutionize the field of hepatology, by faster decision for monitoring, intensive care unit admission and choice of therapies.


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Sponsor

This study received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 825694.