PHORECAST is a personalized medicine project that aims to improve the treatment and long-term care of children with immune-mediated diseases. These conditions are often treated with glucocorticoids (GCs), but the optimal treatment duration and the reasons for differences in treatment response and side effects remain unclear.
In this international project, researchers and clinicians from 7 European countries compare 3-day and 5-day GC treatments in children with acute immune-mediated diseases. Clinical data, patient-reported outcomes, and blood and urine samples are collected during and after treatment to better understand the effects of GC therapy on the body and immune system.
The goal is to identify biomarkers that predict treatment response and the risk of side effects. This could support more personalized, safer, and more effective therapies, improving outcomes and quality of life for affected children.
PHORECAST is designed as a multicentre study linking 9 institutions from 7 European countries. Clinicians, researchers, and patient representatives work closely together in this interdisciplinary project, combining expertise from paediatrics, immunology, life sciences, bioinformatics, ethics, and personalized medicine to improve the treatment and long-term care of children with immune-mediated diseases.
Dresden (Germany)
The University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden is one of the leading healthcare institutions in Germany with a large catchment area beyond Eastern Saxony. As part of the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) - “University of Excellence” since 2012 - it is committed to highest standards in applied medicine, medical research and teaching.
At the Children’s Hospital we offer state-of-the-art diagnostics and therapeutics, providing care for infants, children, and adolescents with congenital and acquired diseases. In addition, the close connection between patient care and research enables a wide range of clinical and basic research.
The Dresden team is the coordinator of the European multicentric PhORECaST study and is responsible for the overall organization and coordination of all project partners. At the Dresden site, the team leads patient recruitment, sample collection, immune cell and cytokine analyses. In addition, the team is responsible for clinical data management and quality control.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. med. Catharina Schütz
Department of Pediatrics
Pediatric Immunology
University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus
Technische Universität Dresden (TUD)
Fetscherstraße 74
01307 Dresden
Germany
Members:
Prof. Dr. med. Sebastian Brenner
Dr. rer. nat. Sebastian Thieme
Dr. rer. nat. Ralf Wiedemuth
Luise Richter (project coordination)
Helsinki (Finland)
HiLIFE – Helsinki Institute of Life Science is one of the leading life science research institutes in the Nordic countries. As part of the University of Helsinki, it conducts research across the university's campuses to address current challenges in health.
Within HiLIFE, the Helsinki Proteomics Center and the Systems Biology Research group, led by Professor Markku Varjosalo, specialise in mass spectrometry–based clinical proteomics and in the analysis of immune-related gene expression. The group works closely with clinical experts at Helsinki University Hospital.
The Helsinki team is one of three clinical centres recruiting patients and collecting samples for the PHORECAST study. In addition, the team leads the proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, measuring how high-dose steroid treatment changes the proteins and gene activity in each child. These analyses contribute to the search for markers that predict treatment response and the risk of side effects.
Contact:
Res. Dir. Dr. Markku Varjosalo
University of Helsinki, HiLIFE – Helsinki Institute of Life Science
Institute of Biotechnology
Biocenter 3
Viikinkaari 1, P.O.Box 65
FI-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Members:
A. Prof. Dr. Salla Keskitalo
A. Prof. Dr. Med. Kristiina Aalto
Stockholm (Sweden)
Karolinska Institutet (KI) is one of the world's leading medical universities, consistently ranked among the top institutions globally for biomedical research and education. Founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1810, KI is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and has a long tradition of translating fundamental discoveries into clinical practice. With approximately 6,000 employees, 2,400 doctoral students, and an annual research budget exceeding 5 billion SEK, KI conducts research spanning the full spectrum of biomedicine — from molecular and cellular biology to epidemiology, clinical science, and public health. The university maintains close ties with Karolinska University Hospital, one of Europe's largest teaching hospitals, providing a uniquely integrated environment for bench-to-bedside research.
The KI Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (KI-SMMS) is a research infrastructure at Karolinska Institutet dedicated to mass spectrometry-based analysis of small molecules in biological samples. Operating under the direction of Dr. Antonio Checa, the facility provides comprehensive capabilities in targeted metabolomics, lipidomics, and exposomics, with particular expertise in the profiling of lipid mediators including eicosanoids, oxylipins, octadecanoids, and sphingolipids. KI-SMMS is equipped with advanced liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry platforms supporting the full analytical workflow — from method development and sample preparation through data acquisition, bioinformatic processing, and biological interpretation — enabling both discovery-phase molecular phenotyping and quantitative biomarker validation in large-scale clinical and epidemiological cohorts.
The Stockholm team will provide metabolomics and lipidomics analysis of plasma and urine from the samples collected in the PhORECaST study. Metabolomics will be performed employing targeted panels of known metabolites to provide high fidelity in compound identification.
Contact:
Prof. Craig Wheelock
Unit of Integrative Metabolomics
Institute of Environmental Medicine
Biomedicum A07
Karolinska Institute
171 77 Stockholm
Sweden
Member:
Dr. Antonio Checa
Vienna (Austria)
CeMM is an interdisciplinary research institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences committed to advancing our understanding of human diseases through basic and biomedical research. Situated on the Medical University of Vienna campus, CeMM’s mission is to achieve maximum scientific innovation in molecular medicine, ultimately improving healthcare through precise, personalized, predictive, and preventive approaches.
At CeMM, people from 47 nations work on tackling biomedical challenges in human conditions, including cancer, immune disorders, and infectious and metabolic diseases. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, CeMM scientists are pushing the boundaries of biomedical research. CeMM is committed to gender equality and creating an inclusive atmosphere that values diversity. We believe that a diverse research environment, with individuals from various cultural backgrounds, enriches scientific inquiry and strengthens collaborative efforts.
In the PHORECAST project, the Bock research group at CeMM will contribute epigenome profiling and bioinformatics analyses.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Christoph Bock
CeMM Principal Investigator & Professor of Medical Informatics at the Medical University of Vienna
Lazarettgasse 14, AKH BT 25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Members:
Dr. Sabrina Ladstätter
Michael Pilz (Data Protection Officer)
Greifswald (Germany)
The Institute of Community Medicine in Greifswald is one of the biggest research institutes for community medicine in Germany and focuses on clinical and population-based studies at the intersection of health services research and epidemiology. As part of the German center for adolescent and child health (DZKJ), we cover the entire continuum of community medicine—from epidemiological foundational research to practical prevention and care. Our work focuses on analyzing morbidity, risk factors, and healthcare needs, particularly regarding demographic change. We actively develop, implement, and evaluate innovative healthcare models, settings-specific prevention strategies, and new concepts for interprofessional collaboration and qualifications in the healthcare sector.
Our projects leverage an advanced infrastructure that includes extensive medical and community networks, expertise in telemedicine, eHealth, and Patient-Reported Outcome/Experience Measures (PROMs/PREMs), as well as patient, parent and public involvement studies.
In PHORECAST we lead two working packages; Work package one where we aim to develop age appropriate information and study participation documentation in collaboration with the patient organisation KOURIR, and secondly work package 12, in which we collect information from patients and parents about their own feelings and experiences during the course of the study participation.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Neeltje van den Berg
Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Institut für Community Medicine und Deutsches Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendgesundheit (DZKJ)
Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489 Greifswald
Members:
Aletta Boerkoel
Daniel Troitzsch
Heiko Krause (Data Manager)
Link to Institute for Community Medicine
Link to German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ)
Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) is an interdisciplinary research centre at the University of Luxembourg. Its 250 staff members combine their expertise in a broad spectrum of disciplines - from computational biology to clinical and experimental neuroscience – to study the brain and its diseases. Research at the LCSB focuses on neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Collaboration between biologists, medical and computer scientists, physicists, engineers as well as mathematicians offers new insights into complex biological mechanisms and disease processes, with the aim of developing new tools for diagnostics, prevention, and therapy.
The LCSB has established strategic partnerships with scientific partners worldwide and with all major biomedical research units in Luxembourg. The centre also carries out collaborative projects with hospitals and research-oriented companies, accelerating the translation of fundamental research results into clinical applications, for the benefit of patients.
A key component of the PHORECAST project is the multi-omics approach to integrate different data layers into a comprehensive diagnostic algorithm. The Computational Biology group from the LCSB will develop bioinformatics and machine learning tools to correlate molecular findings with clinical outcomes in order to identify actionable biomarkers for personalized treatment. These techniques will enable the identification of biomarkers predictive of therapeutic responses and adverse events, allowing for better tailored treatments. In summary, the group’s work will focus on bridging the gap between disease-related molecular and systemic effects by integrating multi-omics data with clinical outcomes, improving patient outcomes and minimizing treatment-related risks, ultimately paving the way for more effective and personalized treatments for pediatric patients with immune-mediated diseases.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Antonio del Sol
Head of the Computational Biology Unit
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB)
University of Luxembourg
8, Avenue du Swing
Belvaux L-4367, Luxembourg
Members:
Teresa Martins
Leipzig (Germany)
Founded in 2015, PathoNext GmbH is a biotechnology company based in Leipzig, Germany. It combines expertise in genetics, data science, and bioinformatics to improve cancer diagnostics and patient care. PathoNext is committed to high standards of quality, reliability, and scientific rigor and is DIN ISO 17025 accredited.
In addition to oncogenomics, PathoNext provides a broad range of sequencing and bioinformatics services for partners in industry and academia, including the analysis of genetic variants in patient samples.
Within PhORECaST, PathoNext is responsible for genome sequencing and genetic analysis of patient samples. By contributing high-quality molecular data, the company supports the project’s efforts to better understand disease mechanisms and improve patient care.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Jörg Gabert
PathoNext GmbH
Deutscher Platz 5B
04103 Leipzig
Germany
Members:
Dr. Pierre Joubert
Ioana Lemnian
Dr. rer. nat. Anne-Katrin Köhler
Prague (Czech Republic)
The Department of Immunology at the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol and Homolka University Hospital in Prague is one of central Europe’s leading centers for pediatric immunology and primary immunodeficiencies, as well as national Center of Highly Specialized Care and a national Reference Center within the European Reference Network RITA. As part of the largest university hospital in in the Czech Republic, the department combines clinical care, research, and advanced laboratory diagnostics, with a long-term focus on immune monitoring, flow cytometry and functional immune assays.
Within the PhORECaST consortium, the Prague team is one of the principal recruiting centers and will contribute clinical data and biospecimens from pediatric patients receiving high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. In collaboration with the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, the team will support deep immune profiling through high-dimensional cytometry and the integration of immunological data with the project’s multi-omics analyses.
As leader of the Clinical Translation and Biomarker Implementation work package, the Prague group will focus on transforming research findings into practical diagnostic tools for personalized medicine. By developing simplified biomarker assays suitable for routine laboratory use, the team aims to facilitate individualized treatment decisions and improve the safety and efficacy of steroid therapy in children.
Contact:
Assoc. Prof. Adam Klocperk, MD, Ph.D.
Department of Immunology
2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
V Uvalu 84
Praha 5
150 00
Czechia
Members:
Prof. Tomas Kalina, MD, Ph.D.
Assoc. Prof. Marketa Bloomfield, MD, Ph.D.
Prof. Anna Sediva, MD, Ph.D.
