The ABCardionostics consortium gathered in Maastricht on October 6-7, 2025, for its General Assembly meeting, hosted by the Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+)/the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM).
The two-day meeting marked an important milestone in the project, offering partners the opportunity to connect in person, exchange insights, and review scientific progress across multiple research areas.
The first day began with a visit to the MUMC+ and CARIM facilities, where the consortium discovered the state-of-the-art research environment supporting the project. The MUMC+ team, led by Drs. Erik Biessen and Pieter Goossens, plays a central role in Work Package 1, focusing on the characterisation and modelling of human plaque monocyte/macrophage (Mo/MP) subsets using advanced imaging and profiling technologies. The discussions began with the presentations of recent findings on the proteomics-based identification of plaque myeloid subsets and the development of foamy macrophage models.
The afternoon continued with updates on project management and coordination, including feedback from the first Project Review (PR1), progress on deliverables and milestones, and planning for upcoming Steering Committee activities.
Scientific exchanges then resumed with presentations on the selection of plaque and Mo/MP-specific scFv-phages, highlighting advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), clonotype definition, and the use of AI-based approaches to support antibody discovery.
The day concluded with updates on the optimization of human antibody (HuAb) formats for imaging and therapy, featuring progress on scFv and scFv-Fc production, key steps toward developing efficient theranostic tools for cardiovascular applications.
Together, these sessions set a strong scientific foundation for the following day’s discussions and collaborative planning.
The second day featured a series of technical sessions and project updates highlighting progress across several research themes.
Discussions focused on the selection of final plaque-targeted scFv-Fc human antibody leads and the identification of their molecular targets through proteomic studies and biochip-based analyses. These developments represent key steps in refining ABCardionostics’ precision approach to detecting and targeting atherosclerotic lesions.
Partners also presented advancements in the theranostic development of human antibodies, including imaging of animal models using radiolabelled antibodies, therapy and prophylaxis assays, and data post-processing: all vital elements for validating the project’s innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
The meeting concluded with discussions on communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities, reflecting on EU recommendations, planned publications, and the project’s growing outreach initiatives.
A heartfelt thank you to Drs. Erik Biessen and Pieter Goossens for their warm hospitality and excellent organization of the meeting. Their support and engagement greatly contributed to the success of this productive event.