Ageing and the muscle stem cell niche. Adult stem cells are critical for repair and maintenance of tissues and ageing tissues show reduced stem cell function. This project will focus on how ageing leads to disruption of communication between muscle stem cells and their niche. The project aims to identify new therapeutic targets for age-related muscle wasting and reduced mobility in the elderly.
Solving the puzzle of complex disease - genes and their interactions with the environment. Many human diseases are caused by the interplay of genetic predisposition (nature) and the environment (nurture); but their causes remain a mystery, since much past research has focused on these aspects in isolation. This project will aim to better understand these complex diseases using a multi-factorial approach that brings both nature and nurture together.