Osarten, key in biomarker research for early diagnosis

• The Akribea project, in which the MONDRAGON Health cooperative has participated alongside other leading centers, has collected and analyzed 29,800 samples from the Basque working population to advance the early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and other pathologies.

The Akribea project, launched in 2016 and coordinated by CIC bioGUNE, concluded this year after almost a decade of work with a clear objective: to identify and validate predictive biomarkers that enable more accurate diagnosis and prognosis in the field of precision medicine. The initiative has involved the participation of leading entities in the Basque healthcare innovation ecosystem, including Osarten, the cooperative specializing in occupational health that is part of MONDRAGON Health.

The research focused on analyzing the metabolic profile of the working population of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (CAPV), with a follow-up period of five consecutive years. During this period, Osarten played a key role by collecting 29,800 blood and urine samples from volunteers, while other leading entities, such as the Basque Foundation for Health Innovation and Research BIOEF, IIS Biobizkaia, Tecnalia, AZTI, VICOMTECH, Tekniker, and the University of Mondragón, have collaborated closely to ensure the storage, safekeeping, and analysis of these samples.

Metabolic syndrome, a priority area of study at Akribea, is one of the main health challenges facing Western societies. It is estimated to affect 35% of the adult population and half of the elderly population. This set of disorders—which includes abdominal obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance—significantly increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Its silent nature and the lack of diagnosis in one-third of cases make it a problem with a major health and socioeconomic impact.

Unlike conventional methods, which are limited to the analysis of a few biomolecules, precision medicine seeks to integrate genetic, environmental, and lifestyle information to offer a more comprehensive view. In line with this, Akribea has built a pioneering database in Europe that will make it possible to distinguish between healthy and sick individuals and anticipate the evolution of chronic diseases, thus enabling the development of personalized applications that assess risks, identify modifiable habits, and link genetic, protein, and metabolic data with biomarkers. To this end, the project uses metabolomic technology based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and analyses based on Artificial Intelligence algorithms, creating non-invasive tools and moving towards more personalized healthcare.

Akribea se ha consolidado como un proyecto de referencia internacional en medicina de precisión, con el objetivo de dotar a la gestión sanitaria de herramientas que mejoren la atención a los y las ciudadanas e impulsen un nuevo panorama económico. Desde MONDRAGON Health, la participación de Osarten refuerza el compromiso de las cooperativas con la innovación en salud, aportando soluciones que no solo mejoran la calidad de vida de las personas, sino que también fortalecen la prevención y la sostenibilidad de los sistemas sanitarios.

Akribea has established itself as an international benchmark in precision medicine, with the aim of providing healthcare management with tools that improve care for citizens and promote a new economic landscape. At MONDRAGON Health, Osarten’s participation reinforces the cooperatives’ commitment to innovation in healthcare, providing solutions that not only improve people’s quality of life, but also strengthen prevention and the sustainability of healthcare systems.

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