1. THE JINGO PROJECT BACKGROUND AIM PROJECT OUTLINE FUTURE IMPACT
M. Gibney (UCD), H. Roche (UCD), L. Brennan (UCD), E. Gibney (UCD), M. Ryan (UCD), M. Walsh (UCD) C. Phillips (UCD), B. McNulty (UCD), A. Nugent (UCD), J. Scott (TCD), A. Molloy (TCD) , A. Flynn (UCC) K. Cashman (UCC), J. Walton (UCC), S. Strain (UU), H. McNulty (UU), M. Ward (UU), B. Livingstone (UU) L. Hoey (UU), G. Horigan (UU), T. McCaffrey (UU)
BACKGROUND
Traditionally, food intake databases have been linked with targeted biochemistry, anthropometry and physical activity data. Modern Nutrigenomics techniques can contribute greatly to such work by describing the impact of nutrition on the full scale of metabolism, from the level of the gene (genomics), through to messenger RNA (transcriptomics), proteins (proteomics) and metabolites (metabolomics). This combination of data can be used to fully assess an individual’s nutritional phenotype. In this way, the nutritional phenotype represents the health of the whole individual, from the activities in their body cells all the way to their level of functional capacity and some physical characteristics.
AIM
The Joint Irish Nutrigenomics Organisation (JINGO), which is composed of four universities (UCD, UCC, TCD, and UU) will build a National Nutrition Phenotype Database for the Irish population.
PROJECT OUTLINE
The JINGO database will be built from a range of nutritional phenotype data collected over the next years from 3 studies:
National Adult Nutrition Survey
UCD and UCC will recruit 1,500 adults.
This cohort will represent a nationally representative Irish sample.
Metabolic Challenge Study
UCD will assess 300 healthy adults aged yrs to investigate nutritional phenotype during acute metabolic stress, as induced by ingesting a high fat or high carbohydrate drink.
Trinity-Ulster Department of Agriculture Project
TCD and UU will investigate nutritional phenotype during the chronic metabolic stress of ageing by recruiting 6,000 elderly adults (60+ yrs) Gene-nutrient interactions in the development of stroke, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease will be investigated by assessing individuals exhibiting early stages of these diseases namely hypertension, low bone mineral density and early memory loss.
FUTURE IMPACT
This UCD-led project will allow Ireland to compete at the highest international level in the areas of nutrigenomics and public health. It will serve as a national resource, vital for carrying out future food and health research, aiding in the prevention of obesity and chronic diseases of ageing where gene-nutrient interactions are emerging as key factors.
This project is funded by the Department of Agriculture’s Food Research Programme and the Health Research Board (2007 – 2012). For information contact: Dr. Miriam Ryan