Research Questions:
1. What genetic, environmental, and imaging-based risk factors contribute to the onset and progression of cerebrovascular diseases (including stroke), neurodegenerative diseases, and mood disorders?
2. What are the shared and distinct genetic mechanisms underlying these disorders?
3. Can integrated multi-omics and imaging analyses identify novel drug targets and improve prognostic accuracy?
Objectives:
Our research aims to predict, treat, and assess the prognosis of cerebrovascular diseases (including stroke), neurodegenerative diseases, and mood disorders. Leveraging the extensive resources of the UK Biobank, we will identify risk factors contributing to the onset and progression of these conditions, discover novel therapeutic targets, and evaluate both prognostic indicators and the therapeutic efficacy of interventions.
Scientific Rationale:
Cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and mood disorders are major causes of disability and reduced quality of life worldwide. These conditions often co-occur and influence each other, with mood disorders exacerbating neurological decline and neurological damage triggering mood disturbances. While vascular and metabolic risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia are known, the shared genetic, molecular, and neural mechanisms remain unclear. Integrating multi-omics, neuroimaging, and advanced computational approaches offers the potential to uncover causal pathways, identify therapeutic targets, and improve risk prediction and prognosis, enabling more precise prevention and treatment strategies.
