Fibrobesity: What?

Fibrobesity research in a nutshell
The world-class research at the University of Oulu on hypoxia and extracellular matrix (ECM) together with cutting-edge research on obesity, cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and other fibrosis-related diseases, combined with our unique population and patient cohort studies and state-of-the art research infrastructure, form the basis of FIBROBESITY.
The pressing issues addressed by Fibrobesity relate to its three sub-themes.
- Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Significance of Fibrosis (FIBRO1) strives to identify currently poorly known molecular pathways causative for obesity and fibrosis;
- Disease Modelling for Future Therapies (FIBRO2) facilitates translational studies through development of novel in vitro and in vivo disease models; and
- Societal and Behavioral Perspectives (FIBRO3) combines approaches at a broader range of disciplines to reveal lifelong behavioral determinants of obesity.
Fibrobesity specifically addresses the following questions:
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What are the genetic and other risk factors leading to obesity and fibrosis-related co-morbidities in individuals and in populations? How can we identify individuals with the increased risk?
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What are the mechanisms and associations of early-life exposures, lifelong risk for obesity and co-morbidities including fibrosis in selected complex chronic diseases? What are the factors predicting the extent of weight-loss in the intervention and cohort studies?
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What are the molecular mechanisms connecting obesity and fibrosis, including the roles of hypoxia, ECM remodelling and inflammation?
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Can we treat obesity and fibrosis-related co-morbidities by controlling those identified molecular mechanisms, such as activation of the hypoxia response, in vitro and in vivo?
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What kind of historical, socio-cultural and behavioural factors underlie obesity and related health issues? How can these insights be integrated to behavioural guidance?