FONDATION CARDIOMETABOLISME NUTRITION

Their core work

Fondation Cardiometabolisme Nutrition, operating as the Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), is a Paris-based research foundation focused on metabolic liver disease and cardiovascular disorders. Their core work spans non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH) biomarker research, steatohepatitis pathways, and AI-driven cardiac diagnostics. They contribute clinical expertise and patient data to large European consortia, typically as a specialized clinical partner or linked third party providing domain knowledge in cardiometabolic medicine.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ICAN began its H2020 involvement (2015-2019) squarely in metabolic liver disease, investigating steatohepatitis pathways and NAFLD biomarkers through EPoS and LITMUS. From 2019 onward, the focus broadened significantly: they entered adaptive clinical trial design (EU-PEARL) and AI-based cardiovascular diagnostics (MAESTRIA), signaling a shift toward digital health tools and machine learning applications. This evolution suggests a deliberate move from pure clinical research into data-driven, technology-enhanced medicine.

ICAN is moving from traditional clinical metabolic research toward AI-powered diagnostics and platform-based clinical trials, making them an increasingly relevant partner for digital health and medtech projects.

How they like to work

ICAN operates exclusively as a supporting partner — never as coordinator. In half their projects they serve as a linked third party rather than a direct consortium member, suggesting they contribute specialized clinical expertise or patient cohorts without taking on project management. Despite this supporting role, they connect to a surprisingly broad network of 106 partners across 20 countries, indicating they are a valued domain expert that large consortia seek out.

Connected to 106 unique partners across 20 countries through just 4 projects, reflecting involvement in very large European consortia. Their network is pan-European with no visible geographic concentration beyond France.

What sets them apart

ICAN sits at the rare intersection of metabolic liver disease and cardiovascular research — the "cardiometabolism" in their name is not decorative but reflects genuine dual expertise. Their transition into AI diagnostics (MAESTRIA) while maintaining deep clinical roots in NASH/NAFLD makes them a bridge between traditional clinical medicine and digital health innovation. For consortium builders, they offer a Paris-based clinical research foundation with access to French patient populations and a track record in both biomarker validation and emerging AI applications.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LITMUS
  Multi-year biomarker validation study for NAFLD — a disease affecting ~25% of the global population — with direct diagnostic and pharmaceutical implications.
• MAESTRIA
  Represents ICAN's pivot into AI and machine learning for cardiac diagnostics, combining imaging data with electrical signals for early stroke prevention.