A consortium-driven framework for biomarker prioritization in the HEBE aging study

@article{bollati2026consortiumdriven,
  title = {{A consortium-driven framework for biomarker prioritization in the HEBE aging study}},
  author = {Valentina Bollati and Federica Rota and Daniela Lucini and Chiara Mandò and Francesca Bianchi and Mario Clerici and Elia Mario Biganzoli and the HEBE Consortium and Ambrogi Federico and Arosio Beatrice and Aureli Massimo and Baron Giovanna and Baruscotti Mirko and Battaglia Cristina and Bellocchi Chiara and Bellosta Stefano and Bernardelli Clara and Bernardelli Giuseppina and Bianchi Francesca and Biganzoli Elia and Bollati Valentina and Bonomi Marco and Bravi Francesca and Brocca Paola and Brucato Antonio and Bucchi Annalisa and Camera Marina and Caporale Nicolò and Cappelletti Graziella and Caretti Anna and Casati Lavinia and Castaldi Silvana and Castiglioni Sara and Cattaneo Maria Grazia and Cazzola Roberta and Centanni Stefano and Cetin Irene and Chiaramonte Raffaella and Chiodini Iacopo and Chiricozzi Elena and Ciana Paolo and Citro Valentina and Clerici Mario Salvatore and Cogliati Chiara Beatrice and Corbetta Sabrina Luigia and D.’addio Francesca and D.’amato Alfonsina and Dallanoce Clelia Mariangiola Luisa and Dei Cas Michele Vittorio and Del Favero Elena and Delle Fave Antonella and Dias Rodrigues Gabriel and Dozio Elena and Edefonti Valeria and Fenizia Claudio and Ferrari Luca and Ferraroni Monica and Fiorina Paolo and Fornasari Diego Maria Michele and Fumagalli Marta},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-72802-6},
  url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-72802-6},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - A consortium-driven framework for biomarker prioritization in the HEBE aging study
AU  - Valentina Bollati
AU  - Federica Rota
AU  - Daniela Lucini
AU  - Chiara Mandò
AU  - Francesca Bianchi
AU  - Mario Clerici
AU  - Elia Mario Biganzoli
AU  - the HEBE Consortium
AU  - Ambrogi Federico
AU  - Arosio Beatrice
AU  - Aureli Massimo
AU  - Baron Giovanna
AU  - Baruscotti Mirko
AU  - Battaglia Cristina
AU  - Bellocchi Chiara
AU  - Bellosta Stefano
AU  - Bernardelli Clara
AU  - Bernardelli Giuseppina
AU  - Bianchi Francesca
AU  - Biganzoli Elia
AU  - Bollati Valentina
AU  - Bonomi Marco
AU  - Bravi Francesca
AU  - Brocca Paola
AU  - Brucato Antonio
AU  - Bucchi Annalisa
AU  - Camera Marina
AU  - Caporale Nicolò
AU  - Cappelletti Graziella
AU  - Caretti Anna
AU  - Casati Lavinia
AU  - Castaldi Silvana
AU  - Castiglioni Sara
AU  - Cattaneo Maria Grazia
AU  - Cazzola Roberta
AU  - Centanni Stefano
AU  - Cetin Irene
AU  - Chiaramonte Raffaella
AU  - Chiodini Iacopo
AU  - Chiricozzi Elena
AU  - Ciana Paolo
AU  - Citro Valentina
AU  - Clerici Mario Salvatore
AU  - Cogliati Chiara Beatrice
AU  - Corbetta Sabrina Luigia
AU  - D.’addio Francesca
AU  - D.’amato Alfonsina
AU  - Dallanoce Clelia Mariangiola Luisa
AU  - Dei Cas Michele Vittorio
AU  - Del Favero Elena
AU  - Delle Fave Antonella
AU  - Dias Rodrigues Gabriel
AU  - Dozio Elena
AU  - Edefonti Valeria
AU  - Fenizia Claudio
AU  - Ferrari Luca
AU  - Ferraroni Monica
AU  - Fiorina Paolo
AU  - Fornasari Diego Maria Michele
AU  - Fumagalli Marta
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/11
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-72802-6
UR  - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-72802-6
AB  - Aging is a complex biological process influenced by chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysregulation, collectively termed inflammaging. The HEBE (Healthy aging versus inflamm-aging: the role of physical Exercise in modulating the Biomarkers of age-associated and Environmentally determined chronic diseases) project developed and implemented a consortium-driven, cost-effective methodological framework for biomarker profiling aimed at capturing these mechanisms and their modulation by lifestyle interventions, particularly physical exercise. This framework integrates interdisciplinary expertise and high-throughput analytical strategies to guide biomarker selection while balancing physiological relevance, analytical feasibility, and cost-effectiveness. The framework was applied within a large multidisciplinary consortium structured across multiple research lines (RLs), each addressing specific domains of inflammaging-related conditions, including obesity, cancer, frailty, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, neuroinflammation, psychological stress, autoimmune disorders, and fertility. The resulting biomarker panel spans molecular, cellular, and systemic levels, encompassing inflammatory cytokines, metabolic regulators, neurotrophic factors, extracellular vesicle-derived molecules, lipidomics, proteomics, and platelet activation markers. A key output of this framework is the harmonized integration of cross-disciplinary biomarker data while minimizing biological sample consumption and analytical costs. The prioritization of multiplex technologies and targeted omics approaches enables the simultaneous assessment of multiple biomarkers from limited biospecimens, enhancing efficiency and scalability. Centralized data management and statistical coordination further support consistency of implementation. This work also highlights methodological challenges inherent to large-scale biomarker studies, including inter-individual variability, platform standardization, and the need for longitudinal validation. Addressing these issues through harmonized protocols and extended follow-up will be essential to strengthen future empirical applications. By formalizing and documenting this consortium-driven approach, the HEBE Project provides a transferable methodological framework to support biomarker-based monitoring of aging processes and lifestyle interventions in complex, resource-constrained research settings.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -