Physical
Activity and
Nutrition in
Inflammation-related
Chronic disease

Focus
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, involve a common systemic inflammatory component. The PANIC research network involves researchers who are investigating various factors that modify inflammation, such as nutrition, metabolism, physiology, psychology and physical activity, to understand their impact on chronic disease.

 

The PANIC research network aims to:

• establish a critical mass of people with a common interest in nutrition, physical activity, metabolic, psychological and physiological aspects of inflammation in health and disease.
• increase capacity to undertake high quality research
• increase capacity to attract competitive funding
• increase capacity to attract new staff, students and visitors

 

Activities
PANIC meets quarterly (March , June, September, December) to educate and discuss research collaborations. There is a schedule of presentations by researchers on current and planned projects, and upcoming Grant Rounds are tabled with discussion based around application strategies.

 

Capabilities
Researchers in the PANIC network have established the clinical and laboratory facilities, expertise and collaborations to assess all aspects of the described model. A series of projects are underway that assess key environmental and genetic factors that modify a common set of clinical and biochemical markers that lead to various clinical manifestations. PANIC researchers are also undertaking interventional studies to determine whether modifying environmental exposures, and targeting systemic inflammation, can improve one or more of these chronic metabolic diseases.

 

Contact
For more information about the PANIC research network, contact:

Dr Lisa Wood
lisa.wood@newcastle.edu.au
P: (+61 2) 4985 5677
F: (+61 2) 4985 5850