As 2013 draws to a close, Niche reflects on a year of substantial scientific and collaborative achievement. Following European Union Horizon 2020 approval of the Frailomic research programme, Niche rapidly onboarded consortium partners across Europe and published multiple manuscripts on lipid-lowering and diabetes, alongside blogs on poster design and Good Publication Practice [1]. However, the most significant endeavour of late 2013 has been the preparation and submission of the SPRINTT (Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies) grant application to the EU Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).
SPRINTT addresses a critical unmet need: physical frailty and sarcopenia in older adults, conditions closely linked to falls, disability, and loss of independence [2]. Despite their high prevalence, validated treatment pathways remain lacking [3]. The proposed large-scale, multicentre randomised controlled trial combines physical activity, nutritional guidance, and technological monitoring, reflecting a systems-level understanding of ageing [4].
Consortium Building and Partner Integration
Bringing together the SPRINTT consortium required deliberate and sustained effort. Niche led the assembly of a diverse partnership spanning universities, hospitals, research institutes, and pharmaceutical organisations across Europe. The breadth of this collaboration acknowledges that frailty arises from interacting biological and environmental factors, not a single pathway [5]. Regular steering meetings, work package planning sessions, and teleconferences were held throughout Q2–Q4 2013 to align scientific objectives and operational frameworks. This process was essential to harmonise differing institutional cultures, data standards, and regulatory expectations.
Task Allocation, Roles, and Responsibilities (Assuming Award)
Should SPRINTT be approved, the consortium leads have proposed a clear governance structure to ensure rigorous delivery. A managing board will oversee the project, supported by work package (WP) groups and independent advisory bodies for ethics and data safety. The proposed allocation of tasks includes:
- WP1 (Clinical coordination): Lead academic clinical centres will handle site recruitment, randomisation, and delivery of the multi-component intervention (supervised exercise, nutritional supplementation, and remote monitoring).
- WP2 (Biomarkers and biobanking): University-affiliated laboratories will analyse blood and muscle tissue samples for inflammatory, metabolic, and proteomic markers of frailty, building on validated biomarker frameworks [2].
- WP3 (Databases and data integration): Niche and informatics partners will create interconnected clinical, biomarker, and device-based databases, enabling multidimensional analysis of functional decline and resilience.
- WP4 (Dissemination and training): Niche will lead publication strategy, public engagement, and training workshops, drawing on prior experience in medical writing and good publication practice [1].
- WP5 (Health economics and regulatory affairs): Specialist industry and academic partners will model cost-effectiveness and support future regulatory submissions.
Niche’s specific responsibilities include overall project management, consortium communication, data integration oversight, and dissemination. It will be a huge undertaking. This allocation plays to Niche’s strengths in bridging academic- industry partnerships and scientific communications.
Prestige and Impact of a Successful Award
At this stage, waiting to hear if we win the award, success is not guaranteed. The proposal acknowledges that research outcomes and timelines cannot be fully assured. Nevertheless, securing IMI funding for SPRINTT would bring substantial prestige to all consortium members. For academic partners, it affirms leadership in geriatric medicine and translational research. For industry partners, it signals commitment to evidence-based solutions for an ageing population.
For Niche, an IMI award would represent a transformative milestone. As a small- to medium-sized enterprise, being selected to coordinate a Europe-wide, multimillion-euro (Euro 120M) project would validate Niche’s expertise in consortium building, project management, and scientific strategy. It would elevate Niche from a service provider to a recognised research leader, opening doors to further funding and high-impact publications. Moreover, it would demonstrate Niche’s capacity to address complex, socially significant challenges, frailty in older adults, which the World Health Organization has identified as a priority for healthy ageing [6].
Outlook
The consortium awaits the EU’s decision with cautious optimism. If successful, SPRINTT could reshape clinical practice, inform regulatory guidelines, and provide a foundation for future therapies. Regardless of the outcome, the process of assembling and submitting this ambitious proposal has already strengthened Niche’s collaborative networks and scientific capabilities.
References
- Niche Science & Technology Ltd. Good Publication Practice (GPP3) guidelines. Niche Blogs. 2013.
- Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, Boirie Y, Cederholm T, Landi F, et al. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2010;39(4):412-23.
- Morley JE, Vellas B, van Kan GA, Anker SD, Bauer JM, Bernabei R, et al. Frailty consensus: a call to action. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(6):392-7.
- Pahor M, Guralnik JM, Ambrosius WT, Blair S, Bonds DE, Church TS, et al. Effect of structured physical activity on prevention of major mobility disability in older adults: the LIFE study randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;311(23):2387-96. doi:10.1001/j.
- Fried LP, Tangen CM, Walston J, Newman AB, Hirsch C, Gottdiener J, et al. Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001;56(3):M146-56.
- World Health Organization. World report on ageing and health. Geneva: WHO; 2015 (but concept note published 2013).
