Objective Owing to the increase in obesity, life expectancy may start to decrease in developed countries for the first time in recent history. In humans the generation of fat cells (adipocytes) is a major factor behind the growth of adipose tissue during childhood. The factors determining the fat mass in adults, however, are not fully understood. Increased fat storage in fully differentiated adipocytes, resulting in enlarged fat cells, is well documented and thought to be the most important mechanism whereby fat depots increase in adults. Very little is known about the maintenance of fat cells (adipocytes) in humans, how different fat depots are maintained and how (or if) this is altered in obesity. Recently I developed a method that is based on the incorporation of 14C from nuclear bomb tests into genomic DNA, which allows for the analysis of cell and tissue turnover in humans. Using this novel methodology we now have a strategy for studying cell turnover in humans. One tissue of great interest and significant clinical relevance is adipose tissue. Excess adipose tissue, resulting in obesity, is currently one of the most serious threats to human health on a global level. The current proposal aims to determine the dynamics of human adipose tissue maintenance and investigate any differences in regulation of the fat mass in lean and obese individuals. Understanding the dynamics of adipocyte turnover may shed new light on potential treatments for obesity. Fields of science humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionobesity Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS4 - ERC Starting Grant - Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology Call for proposal ERC-2010-StG_20091118 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET Address Nobels vag 5 17177 Stockholm Sweden See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Riitta Ljungström (Ms.) Principal investigator Kirsty Lee Spalding (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET Sweden EU contribution € 1 500 000,00 Address Nobels vag 5 17177 Stockholm See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Riitta Ljungström (Ms.) Principal investigator Kirsty Lee Spalding (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
