How nutrition and the connection between the gut, muscles, and heart affect aging, health, and disease — using metabolomics and proteomics

About the Project

This project explores how nutrition and the gut–muscle–heart connection influence aging, health, and disease. By combining cutting-edge metabolomics and proteomics, it uncovers unique biological pathways—offering transformative insights into healthy aging and innovative strategies for disease prevention. Join us in redefining the future of health.

Background:

Aging is a complex biological process influenced by numerous factors, including nutrition, metabolism, and the interaction between different organ systems. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut, muscle, and heart are tightly interconnected in what is now referred to as the "gut–muscle–heart axis." Disruptions in this axis can lead to systemic inflammation, metabolic disorders, reduced mobility, and increased cardiovascular risk—especially in older adults. Understanding how nutrition modulates these interactions could unlock powerful new interventions to promote healthy aging and prevent chronic diseases.

Metabolomics and proteomics—advanced tools for studying small molecules and proteins—offer unprecedented insights into the molecular signatures of health and disease. These technologies can reveal how diet and lifestyle choices influence the gut microbiome, muscle health, and heart function at the systems biology level. However, despite promising data, the precise mechanisms and inter-organ signaling pathways remain poorly defined.

This project seeks to bridge that gap, focusing on the role of nutrition and metabolic cross-talk between the gut, muscle, and heart in the context of aging and disease. It is uniquely positioned at the interface of nutrition science, systems biology, and translational health research.

Aim:

To investigate how nutrition and metabolism influences molecular communication between the gut, muscle, and heart in aging, using integrated metabolomic and proteomic approaches to identify biomarkers and pathways linked to health and disease states.

What the candidate will do:

The selected candidate will lead a multidisciplinary research project involving both experimental and analytical components. They will:

• Work with human bio-samples (e.g., blood, stool, muscle biopsies) from aging cohorts. Perform sample preparation, processing, and analysis using state-of-the-art metabolomics (LC-MS, GC-MS) and proteomics (mass spectrometry) platforms.
• Work with omics data using advanced computational biology techniques to identify molecular signatures and pathway interactions.
• Explore associations between nutritional patterns, gut microbiome activity, muscle function, and cardiac health using clinical and biological data.
• Validate key findings in laboratory or model systems as appropriate.
• Present results at national and international conferences and prepare high-impact publications.
• The project offers an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of how lifestyle and nutrition can be leveraged to prevent age-related decline.

Training and collaboration:

• The candidate will receive extensive training in:
  • Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and/or proteomics
  • omics data analysis and systems biology
  • Biostatistics, bioinformatics, and pathway analysis
  • Human nutritional science and aging biology
  • Research ethics, data governance, and academic publishing
• The project will be embedded within a vibrant research environment, involving collaboration with:
  • National and international academic partners with expertise in microbiome research and systems biology
  • Industrial partners interested in translational outcomes and biomarker development
  • Attend national and international conferences to present the finding
  • Be part of large post graduate network and training

This project offers a unique opportunity for a motivated candidate to develop advanced technical and analytical skills while contributing to research that has real-world impact on aging and health

Applying:

Email your CV, cover letter, project title and reference number and information about shcolarship to supervisor name: Masoud Isanejad, m.isanejad@liverpool.ac.uk