Contract Authority: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISDCI)

Project code: PN-IV-P8-8.3-ROMD-2023-0249 

Acronym: DiMoMED

The project will apply NMR metabolomics for diagnosing and monitoring metabolic diseases in the Republic of Moldova. The integrated approach will combine state-of-the-art NMR methods available in the “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Romania (CO) with HPLC and biochemical analyses available in the Institute of Mother and Child, Chisinau, Moldova (P1) and “Nicolae Testemitanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Moldova (P2). The Institute of Chemistry from the State University of Moldova (P3) will synthesize metabolites used as secondary markers for disease diagnosis.

The project will screen for inborn errors of metabolism the newborns from the Institute of Mother and Child (P1). The NMR screening will enable swift diagnosis, preventing late-stage damage.

The study will estimate the incidence of rare diseases in Moldova, providing evidence-based data for development of Moldavian healthcare policies. It will also monitor children with rare diseases (P1 and CO) and patients with common metabolic diseases (P2 and CO) over two years, aiming to identify specific biomarkers for personalized therapy. 

The outcomes will (i) enhance support for diagnosis of rare diseases, (ii) will advance basic knowledge through new or improved NMR diagnosis, (iii) will optimize synthetic routes for less common metabolites, and (iv) will increase visibility of life-sciences research in Romania and Moldova through dissemination of results in high impact journals.