MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre - Core Support
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre: Technical Summary
Overview
The MRC will use lifecourse epidemiological methods to reduce the population burden of chronic musculoskeletal disease and disability. These approaches will optimize musculoskeletal health (bone, muscle and joint) through the development and testing of lifestyle, behavioural and pharmacological interventions informed by a series of observational studies; and by using these findings to influence health policy.
The specific aims of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre will be to:
• Delineate the environmental influences, throughout the lifecourse, of age-related musculoskeletal diseases (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and sarcopenia).
• Use findings to develop and test population based and targeted interventions to improve musculoskeletal health throughout the lifecourse.
• Maintain and develop the long-term cohorts/trials assembled in Southampton as national and international resources to explore the mechanisms underlying the developmental origins and later causes of musculoskeletal and metabolic health and disease.
• Minimise the adverse impact of musculoskeletal disorders on ability to work, by undertaking a programme running alongside the Versus Arthritis-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work.
• Provide data management and statistical support for a series of preconceptual and pregnancy-based cardiometabolic intervention studies maintained at the fore-running MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit (HeLTI, TALENT, NiPPeR, EACH-B and WRAPPED).
• Inform health policy and promote training, research capacity development, knowledge transfer and public engagement in lifecourse epidemiology.
The aims of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre will be delivered through three linked scientific programmes:
1. Musculoskeletal health in later life (PI: Professor Cyrus Cooper)
2. Determinants of musculoskeletal health in the mid-lifecourse (PI: Professor Karen Walker-Bone)
3. Early development and risk of adult musculoskeletal disease (PI: Professor Nicholas Harvey)
Overview
The MRC will use lifecourse epidemiological methods to reduce the population burden of chronic musculoskeletal disease and disability. These approaches will optimize musculoskeletal health (bone, muscle and joint) through the development and testing of lifestyle, behavioural and pharmacological interventions informed by a series of observational studies; and by using these findings to influence health policy.
The specific aims of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre will be to:
• Delineate the environmental influences, throughout the lifecourse, of age-related musculoskeletal diseases (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and sarcopenia).
• Use findings to develop and test population based and targeted interventions to improve musculoskeletal health throughout the lifecourse.
• Maintain and develop the long-term cohorts/trials assembled in Southampton as national and international resources to explore the mechanisms underlying the developmental origins and later causes of musculoskeletal and metabolic health and disease.
• Minimise the adverse impact of musculoskeletal disorders on ability to work, by undertaking a programme running alongside the Versus Arthritis-MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work.
• Provide data management and statistical support for a series of preconceptual and pregnancy-based cardiometabolic intervention studies maintained at the fore-running MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit (HeLTI, TALENT, NiPPeR, EACH-B and WRAPPED).
• Inform health policy and promote training, research capacity development, knowledge transfer and public engagement in lifecourse epidemiology.
The aims of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre will be delivered through three linked scientific programmes:
1. Musculoskeletal health in later life (PI: Professor Cyrus Cooper)
2. Determinants of musculoskeletal health in the mid-lifecourse (PI: Professor Karen Walker-Bone)
3. Early development and risk of adult musculoskeletal disease (PI: Professor Nicholas Harvey)
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- World Health Organization (WHO) (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) (Collaboration)
- University of Gothenburg (Collaboration)
- University College Dublin (Collaboration)
- University of South Carolina (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- Erasmus University Rotterdam (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Publications
Acton RJ
(2021)
The genomic loci of specific human tRNA genes exhibit ageing-related DNA hypermethylation.
in Nature communications
Antoun E
(2021)
Altered H19/miR-675 expression in skeletal muscle is associated with low muscle mass in community-dwelling older adults
in JCSM Rapid Communications
Antoun E
(2022)
Epigenome-wide association study of sarcopenia: findings from the Hertfordshire Sarcopenia Study (HSS).
in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle
Barnsley J
(2021)
Pathophysiology and treatment of osteoporosis: challenges for clinical practice in older people.
in Aging clinical and experimental research
Beaudart C
(2022)
Patient preferences for lifestyle behaviours in osteoporotic fracture prevention: a cross-European discrete choice experiment
in Osteoporosis International
Berman I
(2021)
Measuring Early Life Adversity across the Lifespan
Bevilacqua G
(2023)
Investigating the relationship between self-perception of fracture risk and prior fracture: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.
in Aging clinical and experimental research
Bevilacqua G
(2021)
The association between social isolation and musculoskeletal health in older community-dwelling adults: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.
in Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation
| Description | European guidance on very high fracture risk (NCH, CC) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | National Osteoporosis Guideline Group Advisory Committee (NCH, CC) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Nutritional determinants of skeletal development and bone loss: an investigation using a novel computer vision assessment of bone microarchitecture |
| Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | Preventing broken bones in older people: from research to policy to practice |
| Amount | £29,566 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MRF-145-0011-DG-HARV-C0913 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Department | Medical Research Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | UKRI WCL Capital funding 2020 2021 DXA and MSK Scanning Suite |
| Amount | £216,857 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 4050801857 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Title | Novel seasonal adjustment for vitamin D concentrations |
| Description | Novel method for adjusting the vitamin D concentrations for season, independent of assays used. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Tracking of 25-hydroxyvitamin D status during pregnancy: the importance of vitamin D supplementation. Moon RJ, Crozier SR, Dennison EM, Davies JH, Robinson SM, Inskip HM, Godfrey KM, Cooper C, Harvey NC. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Nov;102(5):1081-7. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.115295. |
| Description | ALPHABET |
| Organisation | Erasmus University Rotterdam |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of bone development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of body composition and cognition |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ALPHABET |
| Organisation | National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) |
| Department | Center for Epidemiological and Bio Statistics Research at Sorbonne |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of bone development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of body composition and cognition |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ALPHABET |
| Organisation | University College Dublin |
| Department | School of Physics |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of bone development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of body composition and cognition |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ALPHABET |
| Organisation | University College Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | WP5, bone outcomes |
| Collaborator Contribution | Consortium |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | ALPHABET |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Department | Biomedical Research Unit in Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of bone development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of body composition and cognition |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ALPHABET |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | WP5, bone outcomes |
| Collaborator Contribution | Consortium |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | ALPHABET |
| Organisation | University of South Carolina |
| Department | Arnold School of Public Health |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of bone development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Epigenetic determinants of body composition and cognition |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ALSPAC placenta |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Placental determinants of bone mass |
| Collaborator Contribution | Placental determinants of bone mass |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Collaborator Contribution | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Impact | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Collaborator Contribution | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Impact | AUGMENT UK Biobank collaboration |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | MAVIDOS Childhood Follow up |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Recruitment to MAVIDOS 6 year follow-up in Sheffield |
| Collaborator Contribution | Recruitment to MAVIDOS six-year follow-up in Sheffield |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | MAVIDOS Childhood Follow-up Oxford |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Recruitment of children to MAVIDOS six-year follow-up in Oxford |
| Collaborator Contribution | Recruitment of children to MAVIDOS six-year follow-up in Oxford |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | MAVIDOS Oxford CVD |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Vitamin D in pregnancy and offspring cardiac structure and function |
| Collaborator Contribution | Vitamin D in pregnancy and offspring cardiac structure and function |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | SARCOFRAX |
| Organisation | University of Gothenburg |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developing sarcopenia outcome risk calculator |
| Collaborator Contribution | Developing sarcopenia outcome risk calculator |
| Impact | ongoing |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | SARCOFRAX |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developing sarcopenia outcome risk calculator |
| Collaborator Contribution | Developing sarcopenia outcome risk calculator |
| Impact | ongoing |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | WHO Clinical Consortium on Health Ageing |
| Organisation | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Contribution to World Report on Ageing and Health, and project to operationalise concept of intrinsic capacity |
| Collaborator Contribution | Organisation of WHO workshop on intrinsic capacity |
| Impact | WHO Global Report on Ageing and Health |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Title | PHENOTYPE PREDICTION BY DETERMINING THE METHYLATION STATUS OF GENES |
| Description | Phenotypic characteristics selected from obesity and/or adiposity, bone health, and cardiovascular disease, may be predicted by determining the methylation status of one or more CpG dinucleotides of the, SLC6A4, CDKN2A, FEN1 and BACH1 genes. |
| IP Reference | WO2015067952 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | EpiGen Consortium |
| Title | PREDICTIVE USE OF CPG METHYLATION |
| Description | RXRA for obesity or adiposity, body mass index and limb fat as an indicator of body fat distribution |
| IP Reference | EP2391730 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2011 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | EpiGen Consortium |
| Title | Phenotype prediction |
| Description | Detection of epigenetic alteration, especially methylation, of a gene or a combination of genes, preferably in a perinatal tissue sample such as umbilical cord, for predicting diverse phenotypic characteristics such as propensity for obesity, altered body composition, impaired cognition, low bone mineral content, neuro-behavioural problems and altered cardiovascular structure and function occurring in an individual. |
| IP Reference | EP2194143 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2010 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | EpiGen Consortium |
| Description | ESCEO Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Cyrus Cooper attended the ESCEO Working Group on September 9th 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Launch of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre & MRC National Musculoskeletal Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The launch of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and the MRC National Musculoskeletal Ageing Network was an online event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/play |
| Description | Presentation given at ESCEO Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Cyrus gave a presentation entitled "Optamising the prescription of oral Bisphosphonates" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | REF 2021 University Results Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Cyrus attended the REF2021 University Results Presentation meeting on 9th May 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Southampton Women's Survey Celebration Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of the 50th Anniversary of the NIHR BRC, the Southampton Women's Survey were chosen to represent some of the research that has taken place in Southampton. The BRC funded an evening at the City Art Gallery in Southampton for 50 SWS participants and their family or friends. The speakers who talked about the study findings were Prof. Cyrus Copper, Prof Keith Godfrey, Prof Janis Baird and Prof Hazel Inskip who wrote and sang a song at the end of the presentation whilst playing her ukulele. SWS staff in attendance and who organised the logistics for the event were research nurses, Julia Hammond, Nicole Minette, Karen McGill and Tina Horsfall. They received requests about further participation or involvement, the audience reported change in views, opinions or behaviours, requests for further information. Children were also recruited for PPI for the BRC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |