Sixth ENDOTARGET Consortium Meeting: Advancing Science and Collaboration in Lausanne, Switzerland
In November 2025, the ENDOTARGET consortium held its sixth biannual meeting in the picturesque city of Lausanne, Switzerland, hosted by the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB). The meeting took place at the Amphipôle building of the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and brought together project partners from across Europe for three days of fruitful discussion, scientific exchange, and strategic alignment as ENDOTARGET moves into its final project phase.
The meeting was structured in three parts: an online kick-off day dedicated to non-scientific work packages, followed by two hybrid in-person days focusing on scientific progress, data integration, and cross-disciplinary dialogue.
Day 1: Online Sessions on Project Coordination and Non-Scientific Work
The meeting kicked-off online on Monday, 17th of November, with updates from the project’s horizontal work packages:
- WP6 (Ethics), led by EBRIS, provided insights into ongoing ethical compliance and data governance, ensuring that all research activities continue to meet the highest ethical and legal standards.
- WP7 (Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation), led by SEZ, showcased recent achievements in outreach and dissemination, highlighting the visibility of ENDOTARGET through new scientific publications, social media campaigns, and awareness raising activities. Plans for upcoming events and communication milestones for 2026 were also shared.
- WP8 (Coordination and Management), led by HUS, reviewed administrative and financial updates, setting the course for the final reporting period.
This online session provided partners with a clear overview of project governance, ensuring a smooth transition into the scientific sessions later in the week.
Day 2: Scientific Highlights from Lausanne
The in-person sessions started on Thursday, 20th of November, with a warm welcome by Kari Eklund (HUS) and the hosting team from SIB.
The morning opened with WP1 (HUS), which presented the latest findings from population cohort studies. The discussion focused on identifying biomarkers and lifestyle factors influencing the transition from health to disease, providing valuable data to understand the early mechanisms of systemic inflammation. After a brief coffee break, WP2 (UNICAM) took the stage to discuss ongoing focused cohort and in vitro studies on gut permeability and endotoxemia. The team shared exciting updates on experimental models exploring how microbial components, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), impact the gut–joint axis and systemic inflammation. The consortium then enjoyed a working lunch, offering an informal space to continue discussions and foster new collaborations across work packages. In the afternoon, WP3 (SERGAS) presented its progress on proof-of-concept studies investigating local and systemic inflammatory mechanisms in joint health, providing new insights into how the interaction between inflammation and tissue degradation contributes to osteoarthritis. The day concluded with sessions of the Ethical Board (EBRIS) and Clinical Board (GIMM), where governance and translational aspects were reviewed. These discussions reinforced ENDOTARGET’s commitment to ensuring that scientific advances remain aligned with clinical realities and ethical integrity.
Day 3: Integration, Modelling, and Future Perspectives
The final day, Friday, 21st of November, opened with welcoming remarks by HUS and SIB, followed by the General Assembly, which set the strategic tone for the project’s final year. Next, WP4 (GIMM) presented its work on therapeutic interventions targeting the gut–joint axis, including updates on innovative approaches to modulate systemic inflammation through the microbiome. After the morning coffee break, WP5 (SIB) delivered an in-depth update on multi-omics data integration, modelling, and AI-based prediction tools. These efforts represent a cornerstone of ENDOTARGET’s scientific vision, connecting large-scale biological data to personalised prediction models that could guide future clinical research in rheumatic diseases. Following a collaborative group discussion session, participants explored future directions for cross-WP activities, data sharing, and publication planning. The meeting concluded with a shared sense of progress and purpose, highlighting ENDOTARGET’s collective achievements and readiness for the next phase.
Looking Ahead
The Lausanne meeting reaffirmed the strength of collaboration within the ENDOTARGET consortium. As the project approaches its final year, partners remain united by a shared mission: to unravel the role of the gut–joint axis in rheumatic diseases and translate these findings into new preventive and therapeutic strategies. With its blend of scientific innovation, ethical commitment, and interdisciplinary teamwork, ENDOTARGET continues to pave the way toward a deeper understanding of inflammation and its systemic effects.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to our hosts at SIB for their excellent organisation and warm hospitality—and to all partners whose dedication drives the success of the project.
See you at the next consortium gathering in 2026 in Vienna, Austria!
