Metabolic diseases
To live long and healthy is often associated with the absence of metabolic diseases. However, the rise in metabolic diseases in Europe has seen a dramatic surge due to improved life expectancy and lifestyle changes.

Animal models
Studies in animal models to link genetic variations to age-related diseases, have failed to clarify the relation between gene variants and disease development. Moreover, results from animal models have not yet been transferable to humans.

Humanised
The EU-funded research project HUMAN attempts to tackle this fundamental issue by generating ‘humanised’ mouse models with livers and pancreatic beta cells originating from human donors using stem cell technology. This would make it possible to study the gene functions in human-derived organs.

105 years or more
The human cells to be used originate either from patients affected by severe metabolic diseases or from individuals that enjoyed a complete lack of disease and exceptional longevity – 105 years or more.

Fantastic opportunity
"By studying these two very different groups, we have a fantastic opportunity to gain further insight into the interplay between genetics and physiology of metabolic diseases and longevity", says project coordinator Associate Professor Knut R. Steffensen. "The results might provide tools for individuals to better control their own health and ageing through diet and lifestyle."

Read more on stem cell related research on the website of www.HorizonHealth.eu:
•    4DCellFate project page.
•    SCR&Tox project page.
•    SyStemAge project page.