Study wins €12 million ERC grant to unlock secrets of healthy ageing

Researchers at University College Dublin (UCD), have won a €12 million European Research Council (ERC) Synergy grant, to explore whether bats could hold the secret to health and longevity.

The ERC Synergy grants support ambitious researchers to join forces and pool different skills, knowledge and resources to push the frontiers of our knowledge and address some of the world’s most formidable problems.

The groundbreaking Synergy project ’BATPROTECT’, involving a team of 22 researchers – including leading experts from Germany and Singapore, is expected to achieve a step-change in our understanding of bats’ extended healthspan and disease resistance.

While previous research has struggled to offer solutions to increase human health span and protect against the harmful effects of infections, bats – the only flying mammals – have naturally addressed both of these problems.

Even though bats serve as hosts for numerous dangerous viruses, they usually don’t show symptoms of viral infections thanks to their unique immune system adaptations. Bats also have exceptional longevity and show little-to-no signs of any age related diseases. 

The main objective of BATPROTECT is to make significant advancements in our understanding of the specific genetic and biochemical factors within bats that are responsible for their ability to live longer, healthier lives and resist diseases. 

Uncovering these molecular mechanisms could open up new possibilities for improving human health and disease outcomes.

The project brings together world-leading researchers in bat biology, genomics, immunology, and gerontology. The team’s experts include Professor Linfa Wang, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Professor Michael Hiller, Senckenberg Research Institute, Germany, and Professor Björn Schumacher, Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, CECAD Research Centre, Germany.

Lead researcher, Professor Emma Teeling, Full Professor of Zoology, has pioneered global research into the development of bats as new models for healthy ageing and disease tolerance. 

Professor Teeling said: “We have just been given the most extraordinary opportunity to finally harness the amazing adaptations of bats and provide new ways to slow down human ageing and disease resistance. This ERC Synergy grant has enabled us to unite the fields of bat biology, virology, immunology, genomics and gerontology, across Europe and Asia, in order to achieve our goals.

“We are thrilled and excited to work together and uncover how we can live longer, healthier lives by learning from bats. I would like to thank the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland for initially funding this research and Enterprise Ireland for their support.”

Empowering research 

In total, 37 research groups across Europe were announced as recipients of 2023 ERC Synergy grants – with a total value of €359 million – to tackle complex scientific questions. 

Recipients include fellow UCD researcher Dr Claire Harnett, whose project ‘ROTTnROCK’ will advance knowledge of volcanic processes to help predict and mitigate the hazards of unexpected eruptions. 

UCD Interim Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact, Professor Helen Roche, said: “We are immensely proud of Professor Teeling and Dr Harnett in their achievement. UCD is ranked number one in Ireland and 23rd among higher education institutions in Europe for Horizon Europe funding. These awards really exemplify the excellence of our outstanding researchers, who are building important international collaborations to address global challenges. I congratulate the winners and look forward to following their exciting work.”

Iliana Ivanova, ERC Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “Some scientific questions are too complex to be addressed by researchers working on their own. Challenges such as climate change or ageing span research disciplines and call for diverse methods, skills and resources. 

“This is why the European Research Council today awarded 37 Synergy Grants, empowering small groups of top researchers working across disciplines to tackle serious problems. I wish them success in this important work.”