Skeletal muscle is the largest organ system within the human body, comprising 40% of total weight and 50% of total protein. Typically its primary function as motor for daily-life is well characterised, however, recent studies have identified an alternate role in immunity.

The ultimate goal of ageing research is to learn how to avoid the adverse consequences of human ageing. One common approach is to directly study human ageing and age-related diseases. Alternatively, one may choose to study ageing in simple model organisms, particularly low eukaryotes, and then extend the results to high eukaryotes such as humans. Both approaches are appropriate for investigating how ageing occurs. To have a more profound understanding of ageing, however, it is of utmost importance to understand why it occurs. To achieve this, one has to take an evolutionary approach.

Diana Jurk won the prize for the best presentation at the BSRA 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting which was held in Brighton. The prize is a bursary of £1000 to present her work at the American Aging Association annual meeting in 2009 at Phoenix, Arizona.

Diana is studying for a PhD under the supervision of Professor Thomas von Zglinicki at the Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University.

Progressive ageing is unfortunately associated with an increasing risk of developing health problems.  Statistically one of the most common medical conditions afflicting the elderly is heart disease, second only to arthritis as the most prevalent medical condition affecting the elderly.  Much is known, discussed, and broadly acted upon, regarding the many modifiable risk factors for heart disease such as blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and smoking, however the largest risk factor for heart disease is not normally referred to – increasing age.  In our opinion, this is perhaps because this risk factor is considered un-modifiable and unavailable for commercial exploitation – yet.  Nevertheless there may be opportunities on the horizon and perhaps further consideration should be given to how to combat this dominating risk factor for cardiovascular problems.

   

The Wound Biology Group at the School of Dentistry, Cardiff University (www.cardiff.ac.uk/dentl) was established in 1992 as a direct result of our involvement in the management of trauma.  Over the years our research has developed and expanded through a collaboration between non-clinical academics and clinical staff and now focuses on differential wound repair at a number of anatomical sites.  The School's laboratories have recently undergone a £2M re-fit, including establishment of state-of-the-art cell culture, cell storage and imaging facilities and is currently undergoing an expansion of laboratory space with the creation of an additional research floor with associated equipment (£1.4M) as part of a further £5.3M commitment from the Healing Foundation to wound healing research in Wales.  Research within the Group has benefited from our role in the formation and success of the Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER; www.citer.org).  CITER is a cross-school network with internationally recognised expertise in basic, translational and clinical research in the field of tissue engineering and repair.  This is a consortium of established researchers with common interests and expertise in the field of tissue engineering and repair with the central aim of translating research from ‘bench to bedside'.  Key to the ongoing and continued success of research within our Group has been our development of clinical researchers through support from the Royal College of Surgeons, the Medical Research Council and the Walport Academic Clinical Fellowship and Lectureship schemes.

Elaine O'Neill and Graeme L. Close, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Liverpool

Ageing is associated with a dramatic loss of skeletal muscle mass and function referred to as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia often results in a loss of independence in the elderly, an increased number of falls and premature morbidity (Close et al., 2005). Sarcopenia is thought to be caused by an imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation (Carmeli et al., 2002) and it has been reported that  a major contributor to protein synthesis in skeletal muscle is the insulin signalling cascade (Guillet and Boirie, 2005).

Michele Riesen (Liverpool University) was one of the winners of Best Poster at the BSRA Annual Scientific Meeting 2007 on Tuesday 17^th July, Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool. Michele has been studying the molecular mechanisms involved in yeast lifespan extension by calorie restriction.

Hannah Tivey (Cardiff University) was the winner of the best oral presentation at the BSRA Annual Scientific Meeting 2007 on Tuesday 17th July, Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool. Hannah has been studying cellular responses to genome instability in human premature ageing syndromes. 

The British Council for Ageing was originally constituted in 1975 and was re-formed in 2006 in response to the need for an organisation that can speak at national level for the three UK learned societies concerned with the various aspects of old age and the ageing process. The BCA is thus intended to act as a vehicle by which the British Geriatrics Society, The British Society for Gerontology and the British Society for Research on Ageing can provide informed opinion and influence policy making with respect to older people and research in to the ageing process. The BCA was launched formerly in October 2006 at the House of Lords.

Dr Anna Kayani (Liverpool University) was the winner of Best Oral Presentation at the BSRA Annual Scientific Meeting 2006 on Wed July 12^th 2006, St Annes College Oxford. Anna has been studying the effect of exercise training or pharmacological intervention on HSP production and muscle function in aged mice.