SubsidieMeestersLearning from Bats: New Strategies to Extend Healthspan and Improve Disease Resistance
BATPROTECT aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind bats' longevity and viral tolerance to enhance human healthspan and disease resistance through advanced genomic and immunological research.
Projectdetails
Introduction
The medical, financial, and emotional costs imposed by ageing and infectious diseases are major challenges for our societies. Strikingly, while past research has not provided solutions for extending human healthspan and preventing the harmful consequences of infections, nature has solved both problems in the only flying mammals: the bats.
Longevity and Disease Resistance in Bats
Among mammals, bats exhibit exceptional longevity with little signs of age-related diseases. Despite being reservoirs for numerous deadly viruses, viral infections in bats are mostly asymptomatic due to unique immune system adaptations.
Goals of BATPROTECT
The overarching goal of BATPROTECT is to achieve breakthroughs in our understanding of the molecular basis of bats' extended healthspan and disease resistance to ultimately discover new directions to improve human healthspan and disease outcomes.
Team and Approach
BATPROTECT integrates a team of world-leading experts in bat biology, genomics, immunology, and gerontology to synergistically:
- Elucidate the molecular mechanisms that bats use to slow down expected ageing.
- Identify the driving molecular mechanisms behind bats' viral tolerance and limited age-related inflammation.
- Uncover the genomic basis and evolution of extended healthspan and disease tolerance in bats.
- Develop transgenic animal models to functionally validate the uncovered bat adaptations.
Research Methodology
We will generate 150 reference quality bat genomes, along with the novel immunological, bioinformatic, cellular, and molecular tools required to take an integrative multi-omics approach. This will help uncover the age and immune changes that occur in wild and captive bats across the ageing spectrum.
Identification of Regulators
We will identify the top regulators of longevity and immunity using deep neural networks analyses, to functionally validate in our cellular systems and novel transgenic animal models: BatWorms and BatMice.
Conclusion
Ultimately, we will provide a deeper understanding of extended healthspan and disease resistance and will pave the way for future therapeutics.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
| Subsidiebedrag | € 11.882.510 |
| Totale projectbegroting | € 11.882.510 |
Tijdlijn
| Startdatum | 1-6-2024 |
| Einddatum | 31-5-2030 |
| Subsidiejaar | 2024 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLINpenvoerder
- NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
- SENCKENBERG GESELLSCHAFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG
- KLINIKUM DER UNIVERSITAET ZU KOELN
Land(en)
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This project aims to develop a game theoretic framework to analyze the psychological and strategic dynamics of collaborative exploitation, informing policies to combat modern slavery.
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The Ethics of Loneliness and Sociability
This project aims to develop a normative theory of loneliness by analyzing ethical responsibilities of individuals and societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness, establishing a new philosophical sub-field.
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Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Elucidating and targeting the mechanisms encoded in the genome of long-lived individuals to improve healthy ageingThis project aims to identify and validate rare genetic variants linked to longevity using CRISPR/Cas9 and high-throughput screening to promote healthy aging and extend lifespan. | ERC STG | € 1.500.000 | 2022 | Details |
Genetic Engineering of Regulatory EvolutionGenRevo aims to uncover how regulatory sequences influence gene expression and phenotypes by re-engineering bat wing genetics in mice, advancing understanding of non-coding DNA's role in evolution and disease. | ERC ADG | € 2.490.354 | 2022 | Details |
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Uncovering the mechanisms of action of an antiviral bacterium
This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind Wolbachia's antiviral protection in insects and develop tools for studying symbiont gene function.
Elucidating and targeting the mechanisms encoded in the genome of long-lived individuals to improve healthy ageing
This project aims to identify and validate rare genetic variants linked to longevity using CRISPR/Cas9 and high-throughput screening to promote healthy aging and extend lifespan.
Genetic Engineering of Regulatory Evolution
GenRevo aims to uncover how regulatory sequences influence gene expression and phenotypes by re-engineering bat wing genetics in mice, advancing understanding of non-coding DNA's role in evolution and disease.
Turning off the furnace: the intracellular brake systems for brown fat thermogenesis
BATOFF aims to uncover molecular mechanisms regulating brown adipose tissue activity to enhance thermogenesis and explore therapeutic applications for obesity and diabetes.