Approved Research

An investigation of risk factors, genetics, radiomics and health care of physical and mental conditions

Lay summary

Health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, but a balanced status of physical and mental conditions. Nowadays, ongoing physical and mental health conditions have affected a growing population around the world. Multidimensional factors are responsible for the onset and development of physical and mental conditions, while the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, physical health has been cited as an important determinant of mental health, and mental disorders can also impose considerable changes of physical conditions. Therefore, it is of great importance to investigate the mechanisms of mental and physical conditions, as well as their bi-directional relationships, to formulate intervention strategies in advance.

The research aim of this project is:

1) to study the independent and joint effects of genetics, risk factors, medications and social-economic status on physical and mental conditions in the UK Biobank cohort.

2) to combine cross-sectional and longitudinal data from biological measures, metabolomics and radiomics to achieve a comprehensive understanding of their potential mechanisms.

3) to explore the onset, recurrence, recovery and manifestions of physical and mental conditions, as well as their interlay mode.

4) to identify the health care and social-behavioral services for population, to facilitate policy-making for physical and/or mental problems.

Considering the expected computational and scientific complexity of this project, we expect to complete it within 3 years.