About TEAR-Precision

COST Action
"Implementation of Tear Fluid Biomarkers in Precision Medicine"

Tear fluid is a dynamic and multifaceted biological fluid crucial for ocular surface health. Often underestimated, its complexity transcends its lubricating function. Recently, tear fluid has gained widespread attention as an non-invasive source of biomarkers, offering insights into ocular health, but also providing glimpses into systemic and neurological well-being. This emerging field of tear biomarkers holds great promise for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements, potentially reshaping the landscape of precision medicine. Nevertheless, the path from discovery to clinical implementation is marked by significant challenges and complexities.

One of the most significant hurdles lies in the variability observed in tear fluid research, attributable to the lack of standardized methodologies for tear fluid collection, storage (biobanking), normalization and reporting. These variations significantly affect the development of tear-based point-of-care tests, causing a delay in the clinical use of tear biomarkers. Fragmentation of tear fluid research groups and institutions exacerbates these challenges. Collaboration between researchers is hindered by this lack of generalized standards and guidelines, as well as the absence of a common platform for knowledge and resource sharing.

TEAR-Precision action aims to address these challenges. It will bring together a multidisciplinary and international network of clinicians and researchers in the field. Creating consensus-based protocols and recommendations for best practices will bridge the gap between scientific discovery and clinical implementation. The anticipated knowledge creation and transfer will ensure that Europe can stay at the forefront of tear fluid research and its clinical applications in the field of precision medicine.

Grant Holder Institution

The Grant Holder Institution of the COST Action TEAR-Precision (CA24112) is Maastricht University (The Netherlands).

The Grant Holder Institution is responsible for the administrative and financial management of the Action. It ensures that all COST rules and procedures are properly implemented and that the allocated budget is managed in accordance with COST and EU regulations.

The designated Grant Holder (GH) acts as the official contact point between the COST Association and the Action’s Core Group and participants.This role covers both scientific and financial responsibilities, including: managing and reporting the Action’s budget, processing reimbursements for meetings, training schools, and short-term scientific missions (STSMs), supporting the organization of Action events, and communicating with COST on financial and administrative matters.

Members of the Action who have questions regarding reimbursements, payment procedures, budget allocations, or other administrative aspects are kindly asked to contact the Grant Holder team at Maastricht University via the official Action email address: TBD. Scientific or Working Group–related inquiries should be addressed directly to the Action Chair or WG Leaders.

Research Coordination

To perform, align and coordinate research activities to create a joint research agenda aimed at addressing the field's challenges.
To facilitate international and interdisciplinary collaborations between researchers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds to jointly address complex issues in the field.
To disseminate research results and engage all stakeholders in order to align research activities with their needs and objectives.
To centralize the management of the Action in order to guide and oversee the research efforts of each WG.

Capacity Building

To create a European framework for tear fluid research with the desired critical mass needed to drive scientific progress of tear fluid biomarkers in precision medicine.
To promote the participation of YRIs and early career researchers.
To stimulate gender equity, diversity and international cooperation by participation and engagement of female researchers, researchers of all origins and cultural backgrounds, and participants from COST ITCs.
To strengthen the sense of commitment and community feeling of its participants by creating an inclusive, diverse, supportive, and engaging environment.

What is COST?

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers.

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