Approved Research

Disentangle the role of inflammation on the development of major chronic conditions using UK Biobank

Lay summary

Non-communicable chronic diseases (e.g., neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiometabolic diseases and cancers) remain major driving forces for global mortality and morbidity burden. Despite recent advances in understanding the occurrence of some chronic conditions, the question on whether and how presence of inflammation would initiate or modulate the process of disease development and progression, as significant public health challenges, remain unresolved. Importantly, multiple systems and bodily organs are affected by the inflammatory process, potentially leading to an increased risk for a list of diseases, instead of one disease or one health condition. While an increasing body of evidence suggests the genetic contributions to many complex diseases, the genetic basis of inflammatory responses towards certain major chronic conditions, as well as their inter-relationships, are poorly characterised.

This project intends to evaluate where does the different forms of inflammation come from, and who could have it persistently, ultimately leading to the occurrence of adverse health outcomes. We will also try to relate affected diseases or medical conditions with each other, depending on the pattern of how these diseases or conditions are attributed to the changes of inflammatory profile. This project is planned for three years now, with the possibility for future extension. The insight gained through this project would be expected to enhance our understanding of both how and why inflammation is related to common and major medical conditions as well as who could be mainly affected, providing insights to enable improved prevention and treatment of downstream chronic conditions wherever applicable.