This work package (WP2) will take advantage of the large observational cohorts with corresponding samples and will use cutting edge technology for the discovery and validation of new genetic and non-genetic biomarkers. WP2 will also use established tools for the validation of biomarker candidates recently identified by LUDC investigators either in independent efforts or from work within the various consortia they participate in. Blood samples are easily accessible and therefore blood-based biomarkers may be more translatable into clinical practice, but in WP2 we will invest efforts on discovering biomarkers in less explored, yet still accessible body fluids and tissues.

Objectives

• To identify and validate new biomarkers for early onset of disease.
• To identify and validate new biomarkers from and applicable to, broad populations in order to predict disease progression (including complications), as well as to explore whether these biomarkers are enriched in some of the new clusters obtained by using a more fine-tuned diabetes classification.
• To identify and validate new biomarkers of efficacy response, including dynamic biomarkers that change with interventions (i.e. experimental therapeutic, Standard of Care, life style interventions).