Research Question and Objective
Gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and peptic ulcer disease, represent a growing public health burden. While environmental and genetic factors are known to play a role, the complex interplay between environmental exposures, psychological stressors, molecular mechanisms, and multi-omics profiles remains poorly understood. This study aims to leverage the UK Biobank’s comprehensive datasets to:
Identify novel biomarkers and risk factors through integrated omics-environment-psychosocial analyses
Clarify causal relationships between environmental exposures, psychological factors (e.g., stress, depression), molecular changes, and disease progression
Develop machine learning models for early risk prediction and targeted prevention strategies
Scientific Rationale
Circulating proteins, metabolites, and imaging biomarkers offer valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal diseases. Psychological factors such as chronic stress and depression have been shown to both exacerbate gut inflammation and be influenced by systemic immune and metabolic disturbances, forming a bidirectional relationship. Environmental stressors-such as air pollution, unhealthy diets, and sedentary behavior-may further modulate this axis through effects on gut microbiota, immune function, and neuroendocrine pathways.
However, most current studies focus on single-omics or environmental exposures without considering the complex bidirectional interactions involving psychological health. By integrating multi-omics data with high-resolution environmental exposure records, mental health assessments, and objectively measured physical activity (via accelerometers), this research will uncover novel biological pathways, refine risk stratification, and inform precision prevention and treatment strategies.
