Project description
The secrets of healthier ageing and longer life
In developed countries, life expectancy is gradually increasing by 3 months each year. However, this positive trend is accompanied by a rise in age-related diseases. Unfortunately, our understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that trigger these diseases remains limited. Addressing this knowledge gap, the EU-funded MeLiLoN project aims to explore ways to promote healthier ageing and extend lifespan. It will focus on investigating the relationship between lifespan extension and reproduction. By conducting experimental studies on animals and analysing observations in humans, the project will identify a range of genes and nutritional conditions that can contribute to increased lifespan. It will consider various factors, including reproduction, metabolism, immunity, and growth.
Objective
In most western countries, life expectancy is increasing by 3 months a year. As the average age of the population increases, so too does the prevalence of age-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. An essential component of ageing research is to understand the biological mechanisms that contribute to the ageing process at the cellular and molecular levels. This has major implications not only for the treatment of age-associated diseases but also for the promotion of healthy ageing.
Studies of experimental animals and observations in humans have identified an array of genes and nutritional conditions that increase lifespan. However, these manipulations (genetic or nutritional) often have detrimental effects on other biological processes; for example, reproduction, metabolism, immunity or growth. This is an area of ageing research that has largely been ignored but that is critical to the success of strategies intended to slow ageing and thus the onset of disease.
The primary goal of this research proposal is to understand how lifespan extension is linked to reproduction. We will use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to identify novel conserved genes, molecules, and metabolic networks that link reproduction and longevity through nutrition. The proposed study is based on a unique set of preliminary data that identifies the first clear molecular links between these traits: a steroid hormone receptor and a reproduction-responsive
lipase, both of which modulate lifespan extension achieved through changes in nutrition.
Understanding the regulation and function of these genes and pathways will clarify at the molecular level how reproduction is linked to longevity. This may ultimately lead to interventions that optimise metabolic activity to promote healthy ageing.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology demography fertility
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals animal husbandry
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2014-CoG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75794 PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.