Our Pathway
Our Pathway
The project is structured around the development of a comprehensive precision nutrition model
The project will conduct a prospective study that includes the recruitment of two cohorts of lung cancer patients: one with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and another with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The study will gather extensive sample and data collection from over 150 patients, analysing nutritional biomarkers, microbiome profiles, and lifestyle factors. This will help to understand the link between nutritional status, lifestyle, and disease progression. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the study include identifying nutritional biomarkers, understanding the association between nutritional changes and omics data, and reducing treatment-related side effects in lung cancer patients.
A key goal of Mentoring for Health is to create a computational model that integrates patient-specific information, including nutritional status, genetic profiles, biochemical markers, and lifestyle factors. The model will generate personalised dietary and lifestyle recommendations, empowering patients to make informed choices about their health. Delivered through a user-friendly digital platform, it translates complex clinical and multi-omics data into actionable guidance. Key Performance Indicators include improving metabolic health, reducing deficiencies, enhancing treatment responses, and supporting quality of life for lung cancer patients.
Mentoring for Health will conduct in vitro studies using Organ-on-Chip platforms that replicate lung cancer environments. This allows researchers to examine the effects of dietary components, including proteins, fibre, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, on cancer progression and patient health. The study will combine these results with patient biomarker and lifestyle data. Key Performance Indicators include identifying nutrients that influence disease progression, supporting immune function, improving metabolic health, and informing personalised dietary strategies to enhance treatment outcomes and overall quality of life in lung cancer patients.
The final objective of Mentoring for Health is to validate the personalised nutrition model through a randomised clinical trial with lung cancer patients. This study will compare the effects of precision nutrition against general dietary advice, evaluating outcomes such as quality of life, nutritional deficiencies, and hospitalisation duration. Key Performance Indicators include improving treatment efficacy, reducing deficiencies, optimising metabolic health, and supporting patient well-being. The trial aims to provide evidence for integrating personalised nutrition into standard lung cancer care, enhancing both patient outcomes and long-term health.
Expected Outcomes
Improvement in Quality of Life (QoL).
The project aims to reduce the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies by 40% and improve the QoL of lung cancer patients by 10%. This includes enhanced metabolic health and a reduction in treatment-related side effects, which are currently exacerbated by malnutrition.
Reduction in Hospital Stays.
The precision nutrition interventions are expected to reduce hospital stays by an average of 10 days per patient annually, leading to significant cost savings for healthcare systems.
Long-Term Impact.
The project is designed to serve as a model for other diseases beyond lung cancer, potentially benefiting other cancer types and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The findings could be extended to vulnerable populations, including the elderly and individuals with metabolic disorders.
Innovative vision
Multidisciplinary Approach.
The Mentoring project uniquely combines expertise from various fields, including oncology, precision nutrition, microbiomics, glycomics, and data integration, to develop a holistic approach to cancer nutrition. This multidisciplinary effort ensures that the interactions between diet, microbiome, and metabolic health are fully understood and incorporated into the precision nutrition model.
Technological Innovations.
Cutting-edge technologies, such as omics assays and the Organ-on-Chip platform, allow for a detailed investigation of how dietary patterns and bioactive compounds influence cancer progression. The use of digital health platforms to deliver personalised nutrition advice is another innovative aspect, providing patients with remote monitoring and empowering them to take control of their treatment.
Applications to Broader Populations.
The model developed by the project can be scaled and applied to other chronic diseases, cancer types, and even the healthy population. The insights gained from this project will provide a framework for future research into how precision nutrition can prevent or manage various diseases.
