CORE TRACE: Seeking partners for AI-enabled kidney progression and treatment-benefit biomarkers

Can a blood protein profile reveal clinically useful kidney risk that routine tests and previous kidney-function measurements still miss—and help inform treatment decisions?

CORE TRACE is an emerging Horizon Europe concept addressing this question in chronic kidney disease. We are developing a collaboration that connects proteomics, longitudinal clinical information, established AI methods and real-world evidence, with a clear focus on clinical usefulness.

THE PROPOSED APPROACH

We aim to evaluate whether circulating proteins improve prediction of kidney deterioration beyond current kidney function, albuminuria and the preceding clinical course. Selected markers would undergo independent validation, with complementary tubular and genetic evidence supporting biological interpretation.

A separately designed treatment study would investigate whether prespecified markers or scores help identify variation in treatment benefit. The eventual design will depend on suitable data, sample timing and statistical feasibility.

WHAT WE BRING

NordicRWE contributes expertise in epidemiology, linked health-data research, longitudinal analysis, comparative effectiveness and causal inference. Scientific development is supported by experience in kidney and cardiovascular research, proteomics and genetic epidemiology.

The concept builds on potential Norwegian cohort and registry resources. Dataset access, participant overlap and study-specific permissions will be established with the relevant custodians.

PARTNERS WE ARE SEEKING

We welcome discussions with teams offering:
• CKD cohorts suitable for independent biomarker and prediction-model validation.
• Existing clinical trials or well-characterised treatment cohorts with suitable pretreatment samples and kidney outcomes.
• Clinical laboratory expertise in protein assays, analytical validation and transfer to practical panels.
• Trustworthy AI and multimodal modelling, with strengths in reproducibility, interpretability and external validation.
• Regulatory strategy, health economics, clinical implementation and patient involvement.

WHY COLLABORATE?

Our ambition is to build a credible evidence pathway from biomarker signals to independently validated, clinically useful information. Partners can help shape the clinical question, study design and their scientific contribution while the consortium is being developed.

Target topic: HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-TOOL-01-two-stage.

We would welcome a focused brokerage meeting to explore complementary expertise, suitable resources and a concrete role in developing the proposal.