Unravelling the correlation between sarcopenia with lifestyle, genetics and comorbid diseases
Main Applicant – Prof Teh Bin Tean, Deputy CEO (Research), National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)

Sarcopenia poses a significant risk for adverse outcomes linked to frailty and immobility. Muscle loss correlates with delayed recovery from illnesses, slower wound healing, heightened surgical risks, and increased co-morbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and dementia.

Currently, treatments for sarcopenia are predominantly palliative or supportive, highlighting the urgent need for deeper insights into its pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms. This unmet clinical need underscores the necessity for developing affordable and effective interventions.

Over five years, leveraging the PRECISE-SG100K dataset, we aim to conduct a thorough analysis to validate our initial findings on sarcopenia mechanisms and multiomics biomarkers from our existing clinical cohort. This cohort formed the world’s first sarcopenia-specific muscle biopsy and blood sample biobank. The SG100K data will significantly augment our sample size, enhancing statistical power to assess sarcopenia status, co-morbidities, genetic susceptibilities through whole genome sequencing, and correlations with socioeconomic factors and health outcomes from the TRUST dataset. This comprehensive approach aims to bridge bench-to-bedside translation, providing a robust framework for future therapeutic discoveries in sarcopenia.