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

项目总结 拟议的端粒研究网络(TRN)将建立与端粒长度(TL)有关的最佳做法 适用于以人口为基础的研究的衡量标准，并将定义TL可有效应用于 与衰老相关的疾病风险的哨兵，以及环境和心理社会压力在一生中暴露的指标。 在科学领域，使用端粒作为暴露的标志和疾病风险和加速衰老的先兆 正在扩张。端粒研究的爆炸性增长，虽然前景看好，但也引起了方法论和报道方面的担忧 由不一致的重现性触发。为了解决这些问题并推进端粒研究，U24提出了 以下具体目标：1)创建投资利益攸关方的活生生的网络，以应对在确定 TL是环境暴露、心理社会压力和疾病易感性的哨兵的程度；并确保 在当前和未来的端粒研究中具有最高的严密性和重复性。2)通过以下方式支持和协调U01的工作 确保无缝共享样本、数据和协议，并促进以最佳实践为重点的交互式讨论 用于热释光测量。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和互动的科学家网络，致力于解决TL的方法论问题 指标；正式测试TL、端粒酶和其他端粒指示物在多大程度上充当 与年龄相关的疾病和累积暴露；并确定在人口研究中测量的TL的最佳做法。这些 AIMS将制定明确的方法标准，为增加交叉研究分析和合作提供管道，以及 持续对话的平台，与TL的测量及其对老化、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.