We are looking for partners with interdisciplinary expertise in large dataset analysis (e.g. RNA-Seq, proteomics, metabolomics) and machine learning • Clinical expertise with access to patient cohorts or large datasets (ageing, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, dementia, frailty) • Expertise in pre-clinical and cellular models of ageing, obesity, frailty and sarcopenia • Detection and design of RNA molecules for biomarker/therapeutic proof of concept studies, respectively, including but not limited to microRNAs, ASOs. In Galway, we have expertise in pre-clinical and cellular models of ageing and research related to microRNAs, as well as potential access to some clinical cohorts. We are particularly interested to works with partners with access to patients or models of obesity or metabolic conditions.
Tags: Health
By 2050, it is projected that 1.5 billion people will be over the age of 65, and the number of oldest old – over 85 – is set to triple. A quarter of older people fall every year, with frailty a major contributing factor. Frailty, both physical and cognitive, accounts for over 70% of unplanned hospital admissions and 20% of hospital bed occupancy. The negative impact of frailty associated with muscle loss and cognitive decline, on older people, their families, carers and societies is unsustainable, however the development of interventions is stalled by limited mechanistic understanding of frailty and lack of early biomarkers.
Ageing is associated with muscle loss, metabolic changes and frailty, as well as cognitive decline. In addition, we are facing global obesity pandemic. Obesity is often associated with the metabolic syndrome and muscle health plays a significant role in metabolic syndrome, as a major site of glucose and lipid metabolism. Both obesity and ageing are associated with changes in body composition, reduced muscle mass and function and exercise capacity, a reduction in resting metabolic rate and increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and cancer, as well as frailty.
This network will build the capacity to utilise the potential of RNA molecules to address the unmet need of early identification of individuals at risk of frailty and ameliorating the conditions associated with frailty: sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity.
This will be achieved through an integrated approach of combining large data-driven deepening of mechanistic understanding of these conditions, with pre-clinical proof of principle studies.
Through combination of patient data and samples with powerful bioinformatic approaches and models relevant to human physiology, we will build capacity to identify novel biomarker and therapeutic candidates. This network has an excellent potential to innovate as it aims to address a major unmet medical need with high burden. As Europe’s population ages, it is expected that the total cost of ageing in the EU will increase from the current 1.7% to at least 26% of GDP by 2070. Long-term healthcare costs are expected to contribute the most to the rise in age-related spending due to an expected average of 15 years of later life spent in poor health (EU The Ageing Report).
Interested colleagues should contact