Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HealthAge (Joint Training and Research Program on Lifespan Regulation Mechanisms in Health and Disease)
Berichtszeitraum: 2019-05-01 bis 2021-04-30
To address this central thematic area, HealthAge was carefully designed to create a joint European program of excellence in training and research in the field of lifespan regulation mechanisms in development and diseases. By integrating research from basic mechanisms to translational research applications, HealthAge combines top-level, state-of-the-art and interdisciplinary research skills to tackle a series of relatively short-term research aims that are achievable within the time course of the Action.
The research aims are centred to 15 ESRs and are structured into three functionally-linked thematic areas (Figure 3):
i. Functional insights into lifespan regulation mechanisms (WP4).
ii. Longevity assurance pathways in development and disease (WP5).
iii. Novel approaches against age-related diseases and progeria (WP6)
All ESRs have been recruited by the participating labs and the research and training plans have been drafted and submitted. So far, attention has been given towards defining the overall research directions to current research trends in the respective field, set up and optimize the relevant assays needed as well as prepare and test the experimental animal or cell culture models for their suitability with respect to the particular project questions.
Despite the rather challenging obstacle of the SARS-Cov-2 epidemic, there are no outstanding issues with the overall implementation of the program until now. The deliverables have been completed and milestones for this period have been met. The HealthAge website and data management plan are in place, training courses have begun and the outreach strategy of the Network has enhanced the overall exposure of the program.
The complete HealthAge training program will enable ESRs to develop and a solid scientific basis, critical judgment and discipline in their research activities allowing them to reach scientific maturity and independence. Also, the combination of basic biology and cutting-edge technologies of the training program will ensure that the fellows will graduate as a new breed of scientists trained in facing the challenges of contemporary post-genomic biology using advanced technological tools that are widely applicable in both academia and industry, thereby substantially enhancing their research career prospects. The successful outcomes of both research and training dimensions of HealthAge enhances the competitiveness of the participating labs by increasing the number of researchers that will be interested to join them, even beyond the lifetime of HealthAge, and of Europe in general through the generation of highly trained young researchers and through the diffusion/exploitation of proprietary knowledge.
The European Research area, as a result has benefited greatly, as this action has allowed interaction between ESRs and respective labs and has revealed opportunities of cooperation between institutions within the EU as well as the wider international arena. Moreover, HealthAge brings together the students, academic institutions with the industry, increasing the overall quality of academic and industrial training of ESRs. HealthAge also strengthens the European human potential in research, contributes to the European Research Base and to EU’s blueprint for sustainable and inclusive growth.