Project focus and objectives

The main objectives of HERACLES are:

• Identify the Eastern European population (EEP) affected by CE by ultrasound screening;
  
  
• Create the European Registry of Cystic Echinococcosis (ERCE);
  
  
• Establish the Echino-Bio-Bank of biological samples from animals and human CE patients and related Databases;
  
  
• Set-up and validate new molecular-based POC-LOC (Point Of Care - Lab On a Chip) kits;
  
  
• Identify the molecular bases associated with CE response to therapy or lack thereof, through the study of host-parasite interplay (“omic” studies);
  
  
• Increase drug bioavailability of ABZ using an in vivo model and synthesize a new enantiomeric drug;
  
  
• Train experts working in Eastern European countries (EEC), as they are crucial to fight this disease.