Molecular responses of dietary and physical activity related exposures and their relationships to cardiovascular health

Modern lifestyle, often including unhealthy dietary habits and lack of physical activity, and environmental factors (e.g. pollution, noise, etc.), increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases. The molecular mechanisms beyond are yet to be delineated. This PhD project will investigate the role of the RNA molecules in the molecular mechanisms linking environmental factors, unhealthy diet and sedentary life to cardiovascular disease. The PhD student will analyse chemical exposure, dietary and physical activity data of participants of a Luxembourg population study as well as the RNAs from their blood samples. Associations between RNAs, environmental, dietary and physical activity indicators, cardiovascular risk factors and unhealthy trajectories will be studied using statistical approaches and cell cultures.

An improved understanding of the biological response to exposure to changes in lifestyle and environmental factors may lead to improved prevention strategies or to the discovery of new therapeutic interventions as well as novel disease progression biomarkers.