TARGET-AGING – Aging and age-related diseases: population studies and experimental models for the identification of predictive markers and therapeutic targets
Aging is characterized by changes in the biochemical processes occurring throughout the entire life time, which progressively compromise the function of cells, organs and systems. The study of metabolism is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying aging and longevity. By integrating genomic anche environmental cues, the metabolome and proteome reflect the global changes in the physiological processes that influence the health status. The identification of metabolic and proteomic profiles and signaling pathways associated with aging by in vitro experimental models and population studies is a useful tool to identify molecular pathways of healthy aging and novel predictive, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers for aging-associated diseases. The Novara Cohort Study will allow for the first time in the Piedmont region to associate genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data with individual’s lifestyles and socio-economic data to identify factors associated with healthy or accelerated aging. The Novara community will be called to participate in this innovative and participatory project where citizens become not only the beneficiaries but also the main actors of the research process.
Work packages
- Recruitment of age-stratified individuals from the general population for the “Novara Cohort Study”
- Metabolomic and proteomic analysis for the identification of biomarkers of aging in the “Novara cohort study: a pilot study”
- Socio-economics status and aging process: questionnaire design
- “Adipaging”: molecular and functional analysis of adipose tissue during aging
- Metabolomic profile of age-associated metabolic disruption in obesity
- Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the mechanisms of “inflammaging” associated with cardiovascular senescence
- An integrated platform to investigate the relationship between caloric restriction and epigenetics in the context of human glioblastoma
Team
Daniela Capello, Daniela Ferrante, Marcello Manfredi, Paolo Marzullo, Vincenzo Cantaluppi, Giuliana Pelicci, Carmen Aina, Eliana Baici
Partnership
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Technology and Intervention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Sweden)
- Department of Medical Sciences and Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC), University of Torino (Italy)
- Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche e Oncologiche, University of Palermo, (Italy)
- Epidemiologia dei Tumori – CPO Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
Publications
Research area: Why do we age, Prevention and treatment pathways
Principal Investigator (PI) and CO-PI:
Daniela Capello (PI) – Associate professor - Department of Translational Medicine - UPO