Sistemske avtoimunske bolezni

The national research program P3-0314 brings together rheumatologists, pulmonologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, biochemists, pharmacists, molecular and cellular biologists, biostatisticians and bioinformaticians, laboratory specialists, economists, and patient groups. The program focuses on therapy optimization and drug repurposing, elucidation of the mechanisms of inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) with the aim of identifying new therapeutic targets, and the use of autoantibodies and biomarkers for earlier diagnosis, prediction of disease activity, and organ involvement.

The research includes comprehensive care of patients with IRD, personalized and cost-effective treatment approaches, and the development of a financially sustainable model of patient care. Particular emphasis is placed on the pharmacokinetics of biological drugs in real-world clinical settings, precision medicine, and the understanding of metabolism-targeted fibrotic mechanisms in systemic sclerosis. Natural antibodies against SAA1 are also investigated as a potential innovative approach for the treatment of excessive inflammatory responses, including those occurring in COVID-19, macrophage activation syndrome, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, and septic shock. In systemic vasculitides, the focus is on the early identification of patients at increased risk of organ involvement and vital organ failure.

The program incorporates multidimensional high-resolution technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing, high-dimensional flow cytometry, ATAC sequencing, and epiMethylTag analyses. Integration of curated molecular, cellular, and clinical data enables the development of knowledge-based predictive models using machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms and supports the identification of the most vulnerable patients at earlier time points. The research also includes a biomimetic approach to the development of higher-quality materials and applications for implants, as well as economic analyses of health technologies, including the impact of productivity losses.

An important part of the program is the development and advancement of the national multicenter biorx.si registry, which enables the collection of high-quality data in clinical practice with a reduced workload for rheumatologists. The program integrates clinical, laboratory, and research data and collaborates with national and international clinical and research centers, universities, and industry partners. New state-of-the-art models and systems are being developed, including predictive models of treatment response in inflammatory arthritis, models for comprehensive care of patients with IRD, monitoring of biological drugs and their antibodies, the use of natural anti-SAA1 antibodies, innovative approaches to modifying currently used stent materials, and a new design of the national multicenter biorx.si registry.

P3-0314 is based on 4P medicine – preventive, predictive, personalized, and participatory medicine – and incorporates precision medicine, bioinformatics tools, registries, and databases. The program brings together clinical medicine, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, pharmacy, chemistry, physics, electrical engineering, economics, biostatistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence with the aim of generating new knowledge and translating research findings into clinical and laboratory practice.

The program contributes significantly to the development of science, medicine, and healthcare in Slovenia, to the education and training of young clinical and scientific experts, and to strengthening collaboration between clinical institutions, research centers, universities, and industry. It includes the education of doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, as well as professional staff; co-organization of congresses and workshops; implementation of knowledge in the Laboratory for Rheumatism Immunology; development of professional guidelines and recommendations; and active participation in national and international working groups. The overall goal of the P3-0314 program (2022–2027) is to reduce the personal, social, and healthcare burden of systemic autoimmune diseases, including IRD, while ensuring the highest possible quality of patient care.