Underpinning Health Research Science

• 2015 – 2021
• European Research Council Advanced Grant
• Professor Daniel Nettle in collaboration with Professor Melissa Bateson

COMSTAR is a five-year health research science project. It aims to investigate the consequences of early-life adversity for adult health and behaviour.

We are investigating the same topic comparatively in humans and the European starling.

Our aims

We want to know whether early stress and adversity speed up ageing.

We also want to understand how individuals adjust their behavioural decisions. We look at this in the context of bodily state, biological age, and other factors.

A major focus of our health research science has been understanding the impact of limited and unpredictable food on factors such as:

• food-related cognition
• eating behaviour
• body weight

• 2020 – 2024
• Medical Research Council-funded PhD project
• Nathan Kindred supervised by Dr Colline Poirier, Biosciences Institute

Title

Interactive effects of affective experiences and ageing processes on brain networks over the life course: a neuroimaging informatics approach.

Our aims

This health research science project aims to identify brain networks modified by different affective experiences. Examples include positive versus negative and arousing versus calming.

Our hypothesis

We will test the hypothesis that some affective experiences can accelerate or decelerate brain ageing.

Our data

The health research science project takes advantage of data collected from non-human primates. They're used in ongoing neuroscience research. We are using a multi-disciplinary approach including:

• behavioural
• neuroimaging
• physiological measures

Research explores how everyday experiences affect structural and functional brain networks. These experiences result from husbandry and experimental procedures. We'll consider how they interact with normal ageing processes in the brain.

Our findings

The findings from the health research science will inform interventions to prevent and treat mood disorders. They will promote healthy brain ageing.

• 2019 – 2022
• MRC Nutrition Research Partnership Award
• Primary Investigator: Prof Emma Stevenson

The NuBrain consortium brings together expertise and techniques in:

• human nutrition
• translational epidemiology
• informatics
• brain imaging
• neuroscience
• behavioural science
• public health and policy
• clinical psychiatry

Our aim

The aim of this health research science is to produce a step change in research on nutrition and brain ageing.

Engagement

To ensure that research findings are relevant and to maximise opportunities for translation, we will also engage with:

• industry
• retailers
• government
• policy makers
• charities
• the public

Initial studies

Initial studies focus on using information from several key cohort studies. Using this information, we will better understand the potential benefits of dietary interventions. We will consider how they impact healthy brain ageing in different target populations

Feasibility studies

We will also carry out feasibility studies. These will allow us to further understand how to support long term dietary behaviour change. They will also reveal the efficacy of different intervention tools and methodologies to help achieve this.

Further feasibility studies will receive funding as the consortium develops.

• 2019 – 2022
• Medical Research Council
• Prof Ashley Adamson

Visit geniusschoolfoodnetwork.com

• Professor John Mathers
• Professor Linda Sharp (Centre for Cancer)
• Dr Fiona Malcomson

Collaborator

• Dr Carlos Celis-Morales (University of Glasgow)

Background

Lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity are risk factors for several cancers. There is also growing evidence that links the same factors with prognosis in cancer patients.

In 2007, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) published ten lifestyle-based Cancer Prevention Recommendations, including:

• maintaining a healthy body weight
• limiting intake of red and processed meats

Further recommendations were made in 2018. Reports indicate a relationship between adherence to the 2007 recommendations and the risk of, and death from, cancers. However, there are no published studies based on the 2018 recommendations.

In recent health research science, Shams-White and colleagues published a scoring system. The system assesses the extent of adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR recommendations (referred to as the ‘Score’), intended for use worldwide.

The utility of the score in predicting cancer risk, or survival among those with cancer, is not yet clear. Investigators also identified several potential limitations of the score. They recognised that it may require refinement to optimise its predictive ability overall or for specific cancers.

Hypothesis and objectives

We hypothesise that adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations, as measured by the score, influences the risk of, and death from, cancer, particularly those for which risk lifestyle factors in the UK are an influence.

In health research science, our objectives are to:

• test those hypotheses
• investigate the most appropriate way to operationalise components of the score
• explore the importance, and weights, of each component of the score
• attempt to improve the score by including further lifestyle factors such as sedentary time
• investigate whether tailoring of the score improves prediction for specific cancers

Setting and methods

We will use data from UK Biobank which recruited >500,000 men and women aged between 37–73 years across the UK between 2006 and 2010.

We will calculate adherence scores using lifestyle data. These will include measures of:

• adiposity
• physical activity
• diet

We will investigate relationships between adherence scores and incidence of all cancers. We will also investigate those cancers for which lifestyle factors are an influence. We will do this using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses.
We will evaluate associations between adherence scores and risk of all-cause mortality. We will also look at cancer-specific mortality using Cox models.

Impact

We will seek to validate a proposed scoring system to assess adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations (score). We will do this by testing its utility in predicting cancer incidence and survival in a large UK prospective cohort study.

We will determine whether it is possible to improve the utility of the score. We'll modify the components included, or weighting used, in generating the score. A validated (and, potentially, refined) score will provide confidence in the use of this tool. It will produce further evidence in other cohort data globally.

Further findings from this study may strengthen the evidence base for lifestyle recommendations. They may also strengthen public health policies for the general population, and for cancer survivors. These may reduce the risk of cancer and improve the length and quality of life.

Funding

World Cancer Research Fund International, 140 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9FW www.wcrf.org

Investigators

• Professor John Mathers
• Professor Sir Doug Turnbull
• Dr Laura Greaves
• Mr Mike Bradburn
• Dr Fiona Malcomson

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Age is the strongest non-modifiable risk factor. However, estimates state that, in over half of CRC cases, lifestyle factors such as diet, play a role.

The Biomarkers Of Risk of Colorectal Cancer (BORICC) study recruited 363 participants in 2005 to investigate the effects of lifestyle factors on biomarkers of CRC risk.

Aim

In the present BORICC Follow-Up (BFU) study, we are using a longitudinal study design. We are investigating the effects of ageing (12+ years) and lifestyle factors. We will consider how these are biomarkers of CRC risk and on healthy ageing.

Methods

The BFU study received approval on 29th November 2016 (REC No. 16/WM/0424). The West Midlands – Coventry and Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee gave approval.

BFU Study participants attended a study visit at North Tyneside General Hospital (UK). During this visit, they provided biological samples, including:

• blood
• rectal biopsies

Information collected included:

• anthropometric measurements
• a health and medications questionnaire
• physical activity and sedentary behaviour
• habitual diet

As markers of healthy ageing, musculoskeletal function was also assessed, including:

• heel boned densitometry
• timed up and go
• hand grip strength

The BFU study outcomes will be similar to those measured at baseline in the BORICC study. These included DNA methylation and mitochondrial function, with additional measurements including:

• gut microbiome
• faecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations
• expression of genes associated with CRC

Publications

Malcomson FC, Breininger SP, ElGendy K, Joel A, Ranathunga R, Hill TR, Bradburn DM, Turnbull DM, Greaves LC, Mathers JC. (2019) Nutr Health. 25(3):231-238. “Design and baseline characteristics of the Biomarkers Of Risk In Colorectal Cancer (BORICC) Follow-Up study: A 12+ years follow-up.”

Funding

This project received funding from the Medical Research Council as part of the Centre for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University Institute for Ageing (Ref: MR/M501700).

This 5-year project received funding from the:

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna

The aims

This is a multi-disciplinary and multi-national research programme. It aims to assess whether there is a link between multiple exposures to vitamin A programmes and:

• intake levels above the safe upper level of intake
• excess hepatic stores
• biomarkers of vitamin A toxicity

The outcomes

The outcome of this project will be the determination of safe upper levels of vitamin A intake. This will then help to optimise the efficacy of vitamin A intervention programmes.

Evidence shows that Vitamin A intervention programmes can reduce morbidity and mortality. This is true for preschool children in low and middle-income countries.

The project will drive a debate within the food, nutrition and public health sectors. This will stimulate the development of new policies. These will guide future fortification programmes and their monitoring.

An international and multi-disciplinary project

We coordinate the efforts of an international and multi-disciplinary expert team from:

• UC Davis and Penn State University (USA)
• Helen Keller International and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (Philippines)
• ICDDR,B (Bangladesh)
• INCAP and INACIF (Guatemala)

This 1-year pilot study funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

The aims

We investigate the role of nutrition for type 2 diabetic patients in the regulation of:

• insulin responsiveness
• lipid homeostasis

In particular, the project will evaluate if:

• type 2 diabetes patients in Asia have excess fat accumulation in the liver and pancreas
• if these accumulations are correlating with relevant and emerging nutritional factors

Our partners

The project involves partners from:

• The Food and Nutrition Institute
• The University of the Philippines
• Monash University Malaysia
• Newcastle University in the UK

Capacity building programme for state of the art technologies of Nutritional Intake, Status and Physical Activity Assessment.

This 1-year GCRF Strategic Training Award for Research Skills received funding from the BBSRC.

The aims

We will apply novel techniques to assess dietary intake. We will measure micronutrient status in easily accessible samples. This will enhance capacity in a large African network spanning 39 African countries.

Training workshops

The training workshops will also supply hands-on e-learning resources. These will be relevant to the food industry, government food and health authorities.

The benefit of these learning courses are:

• the exposure of new and upcoming African Nutrition leaders to the latest tools of nutritional intake and status determination
• the standardisation of these technologies across Africa
• the training of both industry and governmental experts to aid in the monitoring of fortified and specialised nutritious food production and regulation
• the potential to initiating new multi-country studies using comparable methodologies across Africa

Our partners

The project is a collaboration between:

• Newcastle University
• the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN) at North-West University
• the Lodestar Centre of Excellence network of knowledge transfer and training centres in South Africa