We are delighted to announce the launch of Neutro-NARPS (CA24124) – Network for the Advancement of Neutropenia Research and Patient Support, a new COST Association Action. The formal approval date was 19 May 2025 and the Action runs from 24 October 2025 until 23 October 2029.
Who we are
Neutro-NARPS brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of top-level European and international experts, young investigators, and patient-community representatives working across medicine, molecular biology, bioinformatics and computational biology. Our network also spans collaborations with patient registries and organizations, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, the European Haematology Association, and relevant regulatory & competent authorities.
Why we exist
Chronic Neutropenia (CNP) is a rare but serious disorder characterised by persistently low absolute neutrophil counts. It can occur as an idiopathic entity or as part of a wide spectrum of milder to life-threatening congenital or acquired diseases.
The principal challenge for Neutro-NARPS is to define, coordinate and implement a pan-European network that tackles the full research-to-patient spectrum in CNP — from mechanistic understanding to practical clinical and patient-care improvements.
What we aim to do
Our key focal areas include:
- Understanding the pathogenesis and natural history of CNP.
- Improving diagnosis and prognostic precision, incorporating innovative tools such as machine-learning modelling.
- Developing and translating novel, repurposed or targeted therapies, including gene-therapy avenues, into clinical practice.
- Evaluating the impact of disease and treatment on Quality of Life (QoL) and creating tools for patient-reported outcomes (PROs).
- Investigating the roles of nutrition, inflammation, biomarker discovery and computational biology to support next-generation precision medicine in CNP.
What’s next?
Over the coming months we will:
- Establish and launch our Working Groups (WG1 to WG6) covering inflammation in CNP, acquired/likely-acquired CNP, ML-predictive modelling, drug-induced neutropenias, clinical trial design, and tools for PROs & QoL.
- Kick off our networking activities, including meetings (physical & virtual), knowledge-exchange workshops, and training sessions for early-career researchers.
- Invite members from across the COST member countries (and beyond) to join the network by applying to one or more working groups.
- Begin delivering our first strategic outputs: mapping current CNP landscape, identifying gaps in diagnosis & management, and setting up an infrastructure for collaborative research and patient support.
Welcome aboard
We are excited to embark on this journey together. Whether you are a clinician, researcher, data-scientist, patient advocate, industry representative or healthcare professional interested in the field of neutropenia: your engagement and collaboration are vital.
Welcome aboard Neutro-NARPS — let’s advance neutropenia research, improve patient support, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people affected by CNP.
