Funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3, Theme 10.
Funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3, Theme 10.
Identification of strategies and biomarkers for the management of maln...
Coordinator
Identification and application of biomarkers of malnutrition (including inflammatory, metabolic, microbiological, genetic and epigenetic ones) and biochemical pathways associated with diet and age-related diseases/ syndromes for early malnutrition detection and quality of life restoration in target specific categories.
Identification of sustainable tailored multidimensional approach including nutritional strategies aimed at reducing malnutrition in target specific populations by exploiting the interactions between environment, food, genotype and phenotype: a) analysis of the positive and negative interactions between lifestyle, socioeconomic status, clinical condition, psychological distress, medical treatment and diet for the implementation of sustainable dietary patterns; b) malnutrition biomarker validation; c) draft of sustainable nutritional protocols (in connection with Spoke 1 and 4).
New biomarkers of malnutrition specific for diseases and age and related to diet (M24)
Evaluation and harmonisation of existing nutritional protocol, dietary guidelines for specific target groups with malnutrition (M10)
Validated biomarkers and reference ranges for specific target groups with malnutrition (M36)
The obesity epidemic represents a key health challenge worldwide since it is connected with severe concerns for human health. Crucial factors contributing to the epidemic are considered either the drastic changes in the quantity and quality of food included in the diet or the decline in the level of energy expenditure in terms of physical activity. New evidence shows that dysregulation of miRNAs represents an etiologic factor of a variety of disorders, including obesity. Specifically, miRNAs could be considered biological markers of obesity and obesity-related morbid conditions thanks to their link with metabolic abnormalities and being fully implicated in body fat accumulation. Furthermore, since the test need for the detection and the monitoring of the aforementioned diseases are painful and invasive for the patient, it is necessary to develop a Realtime, noninvasive and fast device based on Metal Oxide gas sensors able to reveal and monitor the volatile biomarkers for malnutrition and related diseases.
IBBR proposes a new generation of Metal Oxides (MOX) gas sensors using different sensing materials and structures that will be tested in order to identify the most performing array to monitor and detect volatile biomarkers related to malnutrition. Volatilomics of the different samples will be explored in order to select the most accurate sensor array creating a IoT real time monitoring device. Lab tests will be then run with controlled gases in order to test the sensitivity of the prototypes, that furtherly will be implemented, to create a final device able to reveal the targeted markers in real time and in noninvasive way.
ISA proposes to identify existing nutritional strategies aimed at reducing obesity in children by considering the interactions between environment, nutrition, genotype, and phenotype. Specifically, a literature review will be performed, aimed at describing the characteristics of the most successful nutritional guidelines designed for the management of obesity in children. Finally, the validation of specific circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers of the early onset of obesity in children will be performed.
The main specked result will be:
