“I participated in a one month secondment at IRCCM Multimedica laboratories in Milan, Italy. The secondment was performed in three parts since the first period started from September 3 to September 15 and I had to interrupt the secondment to move back to Crete, Greece for the Cardioscope Summerschool, which I co-organised. Following the completion of the summerschool I returned to Milan to IRCCM Multimedica to complete the second part of the secondment until October 4, when I returned to Crete for teaching obligations. The secondment was completed during a third visit between October 23 to October 28, when I visited back IRCCM-Multimedica in Milan.
During my stay at Multimedica I had the opportunity to talk to the researchers and learn about the different research protocols they were conducting in the research department, related to coardiovascular diseases and their mechanisms. Specifically, Professor Alberico Catapano introduced me to all scientists involved in collecting and analysing information on the cohort of individuals with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. We discussed on the details of the collection setup and the results they have collected to date. I provided input on potential analyses that could be included and the possibility of expanding the cohorts with individuals recruited at the University Hospital of Heraklion to provide additional patient samples. Professor Catapano explained to me the organization of the biobank and how patient cohorts are being managed, as well as the criteria for inclusion of patients. I was also exposed to the statistical analyses methods and the tools used by IRCCMM to analyze complex data such as those of the analyses of omics results on large patient cohorts. This was very informative and important as I had no expertise in the field. During the secondment I also participated in the recruitment of the patients for Cardioscope project. I followed Prof. Paolo Magni at the outpatient clinic of IRCCM-Multimedica where the follow up of the patients was conducted. This gave me the opportunity to contribute to the project and learn from experience the process of clinical data collection and patient follow up. At IRCCM-Multimedica I was exposed on the projects related on the contribution of epithelial cells in cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis and discussed results on endothelial cell models developed at IRCCMM. Dr Sara Matteucci showed me the models used and we discussed additional experiments that can be performed based on Cardioscope data that have been generated. These involve potential functional biomarkers that, in addition of predicting disease outcome they can provided mechanistic insight in endothelial pathogenesis and effect of treatments. While at the IRCCM-Multimedica I had the opportunity to also visit the laboratory of another partner in the project, BSN, where I saw the process of Mass Spectrometry and how biomarker analysis tests are being developed. I was also exposed to the processes of quality control analysis and production of diagnostics. In addition to visiting BSN, I also visited two collaborating hospital clinical laboratories, this of Lodi hospital and this of Milano Policlinico, to exchange practices in cardiovascular disease diagnostic procedures.
The period of this secondment was not only important for advancing my knowledge in the field but also gave me the opportunity to strengthen collaborations between Cardioscope participants and beyond. Having an in person experience on how the collaborating laboratories work facilitates more efficient implementation of Cardioscope project and allows to take advantage of eachother’s laboratories by exchanging complementary expertise and ideas.
To conclude, this secondment was a fruitful experience for me as it strengthened and broadened the collaboration and laid the foundation for future opportunities in additional collaborative work.”
Dr Christos Tsatsanis, University of Crete, Medical School
