Luis Moreno Aznar: “It is advisable to avoid trends and follow a consistent line of work”

The IIS Aragón researcher talks in this interview about his work leading the Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) group (GIIS066) and his most notable project

Luis A. Moreno Aznar, Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, Diploma in Human Nutrition and Public and Community Health, has 43 years dedicating his career to researchHe worked for 6 years in the Department of Pediatrics at the University Hospital of Lille (France) and in the Laboratory of Hereditary Metabolic Diseases at the Pasteur Institute in Lille, where he consolidated his interest in clinical-epidemiological research in the field of child nutrition.

'Since I was a teenager, I thought that, as far as possible, I would like to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field in which I could work in the future. I decided to study for a degree in Medicine and from the very beginning I tried to connect with professors who were active in research. In the Department of Pediatrics at the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital I found the right environment that encouraged me to begin my academic and research career.

He has been part of the IIS Aragón since its inception. His group, 'Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD)' (GIIS066) , was established as a consolidated group since the first call for accreditation of research groups by the Government of Aragon, joining the IIS Aragón at its creation. This has allowed them to join the Biomedical Research Center in the Network of Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), of the Carlos III Health Institute.

What lines of research are being worked on in your group?

The GENUD group develops numerous lines of research. Firstly, several related to childhood obesity, which is the most common nutritional problem in the child population. In this sense, the group has contributed to identify the main risk factors The group has been involved in the development of this health problem. These include genetic factors (a risk score has been developed that includes a series of genetic polymorphisms related to childhood obesity), dietary patterns (the Mediterranean diet stands out as a protective factor), physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle and insufficient sleep. In addition, the interaction between all these factors is assessed. More recently, the group has participated in a coordinated project that seeks to identify biomarkers of food intake and dietary patterns, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and sleep, using metabolomic methodology.

From a clinical point of view, with Dr. Gloria Bueno, we have developed a cohort of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity, which allows us To assess the natural history of this disease and the development of some of the associated complications, including insulin resistance. Taking into account the period of life in which this study is conducted, the impact of puberty on changes in body composition and the mechanisms by which changes in puberty follow a different rhythm than those followed by adolescents with a normal weight are assessed in detail.

With Drs. José Antonio Casajús and Germán Vicente-Rodríguez, another line of research focuses on theThe health impact of physical exerciseIn particular, the usefulness of exercise interventions in special population groups such as young people with Down syndrome and those who practice various competitive sports is being investigated. The impact of such interventions on body composition (fat, muscle and bone mineral density) and various health indicators is being assessed.

What is the main challenge your research group is currently facing?

The research group is very numerous. The main challenge is the Consolidation of the academic/research career of young people who have just obtained their doctorateWe have made a great economic and intellectual effort to train them. They are highly prepared young people to consolidate current lines of research and, some of them, to develop new innovative lines.

Any ongoing projects that you would like to highlight?

In the field of childhood obesity, since it is a disease of multifactorial origin, understanding its origin requires a comprehensive approach to the problem. In this sense, our group participates in a multi-center cohort of children selected at the age of 3 to 6 years, in which we intend to follow up for at least 10 years (CORALs cohort). Very detailed phenotypic data are currently available and multi-omic analysis is being completed on biological samples obtained in the first 3 years of follow-up. This complex information will require advanced bioinformatics analyses that will allow us to improve our knowledge of the mechanisms by which obesity develops throughout childhood.

What profiles make up your research team?

The research group is clearly multidisciplinary. Its origin dates back to the 1980s, when there was a growing concern about nutritional problems in the Department of Pediatrics at the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital. In this sense, Pediatricians, Neonatologists and Endocrinologists participated in the group. Later, experts in Epidemiology and Public Health and numerous professionals in Nutrition and Dietetics, Physical Education and Sport, Psychology and Nursing have been incorporated.

Why should companies bet on research, and specifically, on your group?

Companies should invest in research to add value to your products. Due to the nature of our research, companies from different areas collaborate and can collaborate with the researchers in our group. From companies that produce equipment to monitor movement, heart rate, blood pressure or glucose, to those that offer health services and want to incorporate or improve aspects related to nutrition and physical exercise. Special mention should be made of the following: agri-food companies, with which we have a long tradition of collaborationIn this sense, we offer advice on the reformulation of the foods that they produce and market or communication about their health effects. We also offer the performance of clinical studies to assess the health effects of the foods of interest.

Advice for someone starting out in healthcare research?

My advice is that the person who is going to dedicate himself to research should be trained, on the one hand, in research methodology and in the use of the research tools necessary in the field of his discipline. In addition, he should also be trained in the bases of knowledge in the area in which he is researching. We often focus on the latest advances achieved and forget the foundations on which the specific knowledge of our area is built.I would also advise avoiding trends and following a consistent line of work on topics that interest you. This does not mean that, at some point, you can change your line of research.

That being said, my most important advice is to work with enthusiasm and with the ultimate idea of ​​improving people's health and quality of life.