ABOUT Pept-AGE MSCA-IF

Pept-AGE is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship (MSCA-IF) project funded under Horizon2020.

We are looking to build new models for sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss. Sarcopenia plays a huge role in the loss of independence and progression to frailty in the elderly population. Because we are living longer as a society the rates diseases of old-age, including sarcopenia, are on the increase and placing more and more strain on our healthcare systems. In spite of this, therapeutic strategies to treat sarcopenia are limited to increasing dietary protein intake and weight training. Part of the reason that we have no drugs capable of altering the course of this disease of old age is that researchers in the field have limited choice when it comes to what in vitro models (cells in a dish) they can use to test theories or screen potential therapies.

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Right now, the models that scientists use to study age related muscle loss aren't fit for purpose. Firstly, they 're often derived from mice or rats. There are some fundamental differences between rodents and humans in the ageing process and so what might work in mice may not work in humans. Secondly, the models we use are often immortalised. Immortalisation is just as it sounds. Immortal cell lines will, if given the nutrients and space they need, live indefinitely and so are a poor choice when it comes to studying the ageing process.

 

With Pept-AGE, we aim to build an in vitro model that more closely reflects both the internal and external factors the drive muscle loss as we age. By building a more comprehensive and holistic model of age related muscle loss, we hope to provide researchers a more "true to life" platform to use to develop future therapies to help treat sarcopenia