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Solving the 'time puzzle' of epigenetic effects on child mental health

Descrizione del progetto

Svelare le origini dei modelli epigenetici associati alla salute mentale dei bambini

I modelli epigenetici alla nascita, un meccanismo che regola l’attività dei geni in risposta alle influenze genetiche e ambientali, possono essere associati a problemi di salute mentale comuni nei bambini. Questa scoperta potenzialmente rivoluzionaria è del tutto inaspettata e potrebbe introdurre un cambiamento di paradigma nel modo in cui affrontiamo la salute mentale dei bambini. Studiando gli effetti di regolazione, il progetto TEMPO, finanziato dall’UE, permetterà di chiarire l’origine dei problemi di salute mentale e di cogliere le opportunità necessarie per individuare precocemente i rischi. Combinerà approcci innovativi e multidisciplinari e la generazione di nuovi dati eccezionali in una serie unica di coorti longitudinali europee. L’obiettivo è quello di chiarire «cosa, dove e perché» degli effetti di regolazione epigenetica.

Obiettivo

TEMPO aims to solve the newly discovered epigenetic 'time puzzle' of child mental health. Recently it has been observed that common mental health problems in children (e.g. hyperactivity, poor impulse-control) are associated with epigenetic patterns at birth - a mechanism that regulates gene activity in response to genetic and environmental influences. Curiously, however, this association is lost when measuring the same epigenetic patterns later in development. This discovery is highly unexpected and potentially ground-breaking: the existence of timing effects could lead to new insights into the origins of mental health and open much-needed opportunities for early risk detection. Yet, what factors drive epigenetic timing effects, how they manifest and why they occur is currently a puzzle.

To solve it, TEMPO will combine innovative, multidisciplinary approaches and the generation of exceptional new data in a unique set of longitudinal European cohorts to address the what, where and why of epigenetic timing effects. Three work packages will be implemented to: (i) Systematically characterize unknown properties of epigenetic timing effects, including their genomic scale, specificity to mental health and persistence into adulthood, using advanced quantitative methods; (ii) Locate epigenetic timing effects with greater precision, by establishing whether effects are driven by epigenetic patterns in specific tissues and cell-types that are found at birth but not later in life; and (iii) Explain timing effects, by disentangling the genetic and environmental origins of epigenetic timing effects on mental health, drawing on the power of genetically sensitive, quasi-experimental designs.

As well as leading a breakthrough in this emerging field and addressing a major knowledge gap at the intersection of biological and psychological sciences, TEMPO has the potential to set in motion a paradigm shift in the way that we conceptualize, understand and approach child mental health.

Istituzione ospitante

ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 1 500 000,00
Indirizzo
DR MOLEWATERPLEIN 40
3015 GD Rotterdam
Paesi Bassi

Mostra sulla mappa

Regione
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Groot-Rijnmond
Tipo di attività
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Collegamenti
Costo totale
€ 1 500 000,00

Beneficiari (1)