Dr N Clarke, Dr P Mundy, Dr I Haussmann
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
I. Scientific excellence
Drs Mundy and Clarke have a proven track record of sport science and physical activity research and already have a proven track record of working with athletes. Dr Neil Clarke provides in depth expertise in Physical Activity. Dr Mee and Haussman have a proven track record in molecular biology and experience in producing high impact outputs – they are both separate authors on Nature papers (IF: 41.6). This interdisciplinary approach capitalises on the teams experience and applies it directly to the area of “Healthy Ageing” and will provide innovate research outputs and strengthen alliance training opportunities between institutes.
II. Clear aim and hypothesis
Greater muscular strength is strongly associated with improved physical performance in athletes. A recent investigation identified 16 loci associated with handgrip strength; however, handgrip strength is a poor indicator of athletic performance. Therefore, investigation into more ecologically valid strength measures is warranted. Furthermore, there is a large variability in both muscle size and strength gains in response to resistance training. It has been suggested that an up-regulation of myonuclear transcriptional activity during the early stages of myofiber hypertrophy leads to altered expression of genes known to modulate myofiber size. In addition, follow-up functional annotation revealed networks favouring growth, ribosomal activity, and stem cell activity in extreme ‘responders’ versus proinflammatory processes in ‘non-responders’, which suggests that the pre-training muscle transcriptome profile is highly influential in the resistance training myofiber hypertrophy adaptation. Therefore, the overall aim of this investigation is to establish the genetic basis and molecular regulation for measures of strength associated with athletic performance in comparison to older adult performance, and the responses to resistance training in trained individuals.
III. Methodology and innovations
Study 1:
Relationship between polymorphic variants, ecologically valid strength measures and performance in university athletes (with comparison across ethnicity, sex, etc, as well as vs. control) versus control and elderly populations.
Study 2:
Genotypes associated with changes in ecologically valid strength measures and athletic performance in response to normal university training in university athletes versus control and elderly populations.
Study 3:
Genotypes associated with changes in ecologically valid strength measures and athletic performance in response to resistance training in university athletes versus control and elderly populations.
IV. Strategic relevance
Study of the inter-relationships between sarcopenia across the life course will enable causal associations to be identified and inform the timing of interventions to maximise capability and wellbeing in later life. The findings could provide evidence for the development of clinical interventions to reduce sarcopenia and improve the health and quality of life of older people.
The project will involve subsequent activity as a pathway to impact. During the project we will apply for funding from the MRC to expand this research further.
Furthermore, if planned strategically, we would use this project as a springboard to move towards an Impact Case Study for REF (irrespective of which UoA it is entered in). We would use the results of the whole project to promote takeup and use of the cut-points with other groups, particularly the Loughborough-Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Unit. This unit is important as this particular unit directs PA assessment practice for the whole of the NIHR. Should we be able to push our cut-points into practice here they will be taken up nationally and further afield. We could then base an impact case study around the reach and significance of this work in modifying how accelerometer based PA is quantified. This is ambitious however and may take longer than 12 months to realise as it relies on traction via citations and use of the cut-points developed in other contexts.
Centre for Sport Exercise and Life Sciences- Impact
This proposal is also seeking to bring together members of the Sport and Human Performance and Genomics theme within SELS in a strategic manner. It will comprise multiple members of FRC/School recognising that, at present, the theme comprises disparate research areas which are not particularly cohesive. Positioning the proposal will result in 3*/4* papers that link theme staff together and hopefully will act as a focus to initiate closer internal collaboration. Without such a venture it is unlikely the potential of the theme and then FRC will be realised. We acknowledge however that not all applicants will go on all the papers arising from the project.
Applications
Applicants must apply using the online form on the University Alliance website at https://unialliance.ac.uk/dta/cofund/how-to-apply/. Full details of the programme, eligibility details and a list of available research projects can be seen at https://unialliance.ac.uk/dta/cofund/
The final deadline for application is Monday 8 October 2018. There will be another opportunity to apply for DTA3 projects in the spring of 2019. The list of available projects is likely to change for the second intake.
Funding Notes
DTA3/COFUND participants will be employed for 36 months with a minimum salary of (approximately) £20,989 per annum. Tuition fees will waived for DTA3/COFUND participants who will also be able to access an annual DTA elective bursary to enable attendance at DTA training events and interact with colleagues across the Doctoral Training Alliance(s).
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 801604.