Elucidating the measurement of telomeres: Development of a transdisciplinary, high-impact Telomere Research Network

项目摘要 拟议中的端粒研究网络（TRN）将建立与端粒长度（TL）相关的最佳实践 测量适用于基于人群的研究，并将定义TL可以有效应用的程度， 与衰老有关的疾病风险的哨兵和整个生命周期的环境和心理社会压力暴露的指标。 在整个科学领域，端粒作为暴露的标志物和疾病风险和加速衰老的预兆的使用 正在扩大。端粒研究的爆炸式发展虽然前景广阔，但也引起了方法和报告方面的担忧 由不一致的再现性引发。为了解决这些问题并推进端粒研究，U24提出了 1）创建一个由投资利益相关者组成的活跃网络，以应对在确定 TL在多大程度上是环境暴露、心理社会压力和疾病易感性的哨兵;并确保 在当前和未来的端粒研究中具有最高的精确性和可重复性。2)支持和协调U 01的工作， 确保样本、数据和方案的无缝共享，促进以最佳实践为重点的互动讨论 用于TL测量。3)为持续的跨学科对话、传播和研究提供基础设施 与TL相关，作为累积暴露的哨兵和健康和衰老的预测因子。为了实现这些目标，U24 建议招募一个多样化的和互动的科学家网络，致力于解决TL的方法问题 指标;参与正式测试TL，端粒酶和其他端粒指标在多大程度上作为 年龄相关疾病和累积暴露;并确定在人口研究中测量TL的最佳做法。这些 AIMS将制定明确的方法标准，增加交叉研究分析和合作的管道，以及 一个可持续的平台，继续就TL的测量及其对衰老、暴露和 压力研究。

PROJECT SUMMARY The proposed Telomere Research Network (TRN) will establish best practices related to telomere length (TL) measurement applicable to population-based studies and will define the extent to which TL can be effectively applied as a sentinel of aging-related disease risk and indicator of environmental and psychosocial stress exposure across the life span. Across scientific fields, the use of telomeres as a marker of exposure and a harbinger of disease risk and accelerated aging is expanding. The explosion of telomere research, while promising, has raised methodological and reporting concerns triggered by inconsistent reproducibility. To address these concerns and advance telomere research, this U24 proposes the following specific AIMS: 1) Create a living network of invested stakeholders to address challenges in determining the extent to which TL is a sentinel of environmental exposures, psychosocial stress, and disease susceptibility; and to ensure the highest rigor and reproducibility in current and future telomere studies. 2) Support and coordinate U01 efforts by ensuring seamless sharing of samples, data, and protocols and fostering interactive discussions focused on best practices for TL measurement. 3) Facilitate the infrastructure for sustained cross-discipline dialogue, dissemination, and research related to TL as a sentinel of cumulative exposure and a predictor of health and aging. To achieve these AIMS, the U24 proposes to recruit a diverse and interactive network of scientists invested in resolving methodologic concerns in TL metrics; engage in formal testing of the extent to which TL, telomerase and other telomere indicators serve as sentinels of age-related disease and cumulative exposures; and define best practices for TL measured in population studies. These AIMS will produce clear methodologic standards, pipelines for increased cross-study analyses and collaboration, and a sustainable platform for continued dialogue related to the measurement of TL and its implications for aging, exposure, and stress research.