Award details

Computational systems biology of ageing in haematopoiesis and the immune system

Reference	BBS/E/B/000C0405
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Peter Fraser
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Anne Corcoran, Dr Sarah Elderkin, Dr Mikhail Spivakov, Dr Patrick Varga-Weisz
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	3,353,645
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2012
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	59 months

Abstract

Ageing is a multidimensional process associated with decline in many physical and psychological functions. These life changes have their origin in our genomes, and are influenced by diet, life-style and the environment. One of the key changes associated with ageing that seriously affects the health of the elderly is a decrease in the functioning of the immune system. The immune system normally works to fight infections to keep us healthy. However, the immune system in the elderly is less active, leaving them much more prone to infection and resulting in deterioration in the quality of life in later years and in many cases early death. In this project we will apply powerful new genome-wide technologies to measure many of the effects of ageing in mouse blood cells, with a particular focus on B cells, the blood cells that make antibodies and form a major part of the immune system. We will use this information to identify specific genes whose expression or function is altered in cells from aged mice, and which may be contributing to a deterioration in immune cell function in the elderly. We will then attempt to change the expression of some of these key ageing-related genes experimentally, to determine their role in acceleration or delay of the ageing process and immune system function. A potential impact of this work is an extension of the healthy life span, by providing new information and understanding of the processes of ageing in immune cells and other cells of the blood.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Ageing, Immunology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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