GRACE is a national network dedicated to clinical research on cardiac amyloidosis. It brings together leading expert centers within a unique collaborative framework and supports project leaders in conducting robust multicenter studies based on standardized practices. GRACE thus helps accelerate the development of therapeutic innovations, promote earlier diagnosis of the disease, and improve overall patient care.
GRACE, the clinical research network on cardiac amyloidosis
Designated an F-CRIN network of excellence in 2025, GRACE (Group for Research on Amyloidosis and Cardiac Excellence) brings together and coordinates clinical research in the field of cardiac amyloidosis at the national level, with the goals of promoting the development, evaluation, and access to innovative therapies and devices, to promote the results of this research, and to provide ongoing and up-to-date information to the community of practitioners and patients.
The diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is often delayed, which reduces the potential benefits of emerging therapies. GRACE aims to overcome this obstacle by promoting a multidisciplinary approach, based on enhanced collaboration among specialists (cardiology, nephrology, neurology, hematology, internal medicine, rheumatology, and primary care) and on raising awareness among community healthcare professionals.
Bringing together the leading national centers of expertise and drawing on the HEAR registry as well as specialized imaging laboratories, the network positions itself as a key driver for the development of multicenter studies and aims to become the one-stop shop for clinical research on cardiac amyloidosis. It supports project leaders (academics, institutions, entrepreneurs, and industry representatives) from the initial phase through the publication of results, facilitating all necessary procedures and providing scientific expertise as well as knowledge of the various stakeholders to create synergies among the different research teams. GRACE thus supports innovation in the screening and monitoring of amyloidosis and is actively involved in disseminating and promoting research findings, as well as in training relevant stakeholders.
Organization
The GRACE network is coordinated by Prof. Thibaud Damy (cardiologist at APHP Henri Mondor, director of the Reference Center for Cardiomyopathies, and coordinator of the Amyloidosis Network), Erwan Donal (cardiologist at the Rennes University Hospital, director of Echo-Corelab, and director of the Reference Center for Cardiomyopathies) and Olivier Lairez (cardiologist at the Toulouse University Hospital, director of the Cardiac Imaging Center).
The GRACE network’s activities are also overseen by the following governing bodies:
- A Scientific Committee, which establishes a four-year scientific program, evaluates research projects, and ensures the quality of the studies conducted. The Scientific Committee’s work is supported by the establishment of specific working groups, tasked with making progress on topics defined by network members
- A steering committee, which defines the action plan and strategic priorities and allocates resources according to these priorities.
- An executive board that oversees the network’s day-to-day operations, including member engagement and coordination (coordination of communication efforts, coordination of working groups, monitoring of project progress)
The GRACE network also benefits from the support of an international scientific advisory board (ISAB), as well as an industry advisory board.
Finally, it builds on the existing network of 39 centers participating in the HEAR registry (and the broader network of 47 centers in the amyloidosis network). It receives technical support from corelabs (echocardiography at the Echo-Corelab at Rennes University Hospital, scintigraphy at Toulouse University Hospital, cardiac MRI at AP-HP Lariboisière, AmyloScan at ESPCI), expertise in quality assurance and methodology provided by representatives from CICs 1414, 1430, and 1436, and scientific support through active collaborations with various Inserm/CNRS research units.
Le réseau GRACE est constitué de différents centres experts et s’appuie sur le maillage existant des centres participant au registre HEAR et au réseau Amylose
Scientific Expertise
The network operates in various fields of expertise and offers a range of services to investigators and sponsors.
Expertise in research and monitoring of the disease
- Imaging (Echocardiography, Bone Scintigraphy, MRI)
- Molecular Biology (Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics) and Predictive Biomarkers
- Quantification of amyloid burden
- Pharmacotherapy, gene therapies, and cell therapies
Expertise in project coordination, from planning to project completion
- Support with administrative, regulatory, and ethical procedures
- Establishing collaborations and partnerships
- Monitoring calls for proposals
- Dissemination of information to network members
- Training and knowledge-sharing initiatives
Clinical Research Expertise and Study Support
- Feasibility studies, patient recruitment support, and assistance with site selection
- Methodology and design of clinical trials (single- or multi-center, multinational, randomized, controlled, interventional or observational studies)
- Quality management applied to all processes (analysis, data collection)
- Technical support (core labs, technical platform)
- Contribution to the creation of registries and biobanks
To learn more about the GRACE network’s areas of expertise, view the network’s service catalog by clicking the link below.
Current Projects
Following its accreditation by F-CRIN in late 2025, the network is working on setting up various projects.
Acoramidis, a transthyretin stabilizer, was approved following the Phase 3 ATTRibute-CM trial: The objective of this Phase 4 study is to generate real-world data (PROM, patient profiles, treatment modalities, safety, and tolerability) in patients with ATTR-CM (~500 patients) in order to initiate treatment in routine clinical practice in France.
Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy characterized by myocardial stiffness and conduction abnormalities, making cardiac output dependent on synchronization. The objective of this randomized trial (~150 patients) is to demonstrate that early physiological pacing via LBBAP improves clinical outcomes in ATTR patients.
Vutrisiran is a subcutaneously administered siRNA that inhibits hepatic production of transthyretin (TTR). The objective of this Phase 4 study is to evaluate its real-world impact on the multisystemic aspects of ATTR-CM at 12 and 24 months, compared with a matched cohort of untreated patients from the HEAR registry (~300 patients).
Liver elastography could be a simple, noninvasive tool for estimating blood volume in patients with ATTR-CM when standard parameters are insufficient. This multicenter, randomized, interventional study aims to evaluate whether adjusting diuretic therapy based on elastography improves functional capacity and reduces hospitalizations for heart failure.
The benefit of beta-blockers in ATTR with contractile dysfunction remains unestablished, despite their role in classic heart failure. The objective of this study will be to evaluate their benefits in ATTR patients receiving anti-amyloid therapy, as part of a randomized trial with a run-in phase to identify intolerances and using global longitudinal strain as an inclusion criterion rather than ejection fraction.
Contact the network
For any inquiries regarding the GRACE network, please send an email to laurence.noel@chu-rennes.fr, the network's project manager.
