Dr Masoud Isanejad MPHN, PhD, AFHEA

Research Overview

Dr. Masoud Isanejad is a preeminent expert in clinical and precision nutrition, specializing in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and frailty, particularly in individuals living with cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM).

Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle mass and strength loss, encompasses both primary sarcopenia (age-related) and secondary sarcopenia, which is exacerbated by factors such as malignancy or organ failure alongside aging. Employing metabotyping, an integration of multi-omics analyses, including metabolites and lipids in tissues or biofluids, Dr. Isanejad gains profound insights into disease mechanisms and identifies novel targets for clinical interventions.

Dr. Isanejad's unique skills lie in developing epidemiological and clinical studies to comprehensively understand the pathophysiology of sarcopenia within diseases like heart failure. Additionally, he excels at identifying affordable and scalable lifestyle interventions, particularly nutrition-based approaches, to mitigate and prevent sarcopenia and frailty. Furthermore, my research is part of a broader project known as "MuscleGaIN: Enhancing the Muscle-Gut Axis through Nutrition." This overarching project aims to develop innovative nutritional interventions to counteract conditions like sarcopenia and frailty, with a specific focus on targeting gut and metabolic phenotypes as potential avenues for improvement.

A significant portion of the elderly population grapples with cardiometabolic multimorbidities (CMM), such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular diseases. This population is at an elevated risk of sarcopenia and frailty, resulting in declining physical function, muscle strength, and muscle mass. Dr. Isanejad's research aims to:
1. Investigate secondary sarcopenia mechanisms through biomarker analysis and deep phenotyping of associated conditions (utilizing imaging, blood metabolite, and clinical data).
2. Analyze risk factors and epidemiology of these conditions using extensive data analysis.
3. Design and execute clinical trials, with a specific focus on nutrition as a standalone or complex intervention, aiming to integrate these into NHS-based strategies to enhance patients' quality of life and mitigate associated risks with CMM, secondary sarcopenia, and frailty.
4. Explore physiological pathways through which diet and nutrients impact heart and muscle physiology.

Dr. Isanejad is actively involved in various projects, including leading roles as Principal Investigator (PI) and a collaborative role as Co-Investigator (Co-I), focusing on biomarkers, metabotyping, and interventions to tackle protein-energy malnutrition in the elderly.

His diverse skill set comprises:
- Metabolomics interpretation relating to nutrition and muscle metabolism.
- Expertise in clinical nutrition and precision nutrition.
- Proficiency in metabotyping (Metabolic phenotyping).
- Strong aptitude in large data analysis.
- In-depth knowledge of Public Health Nutrition, with a particular focus on addressing food insecurity through data-driven approaches and engaging various stakeholders in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Food Systems.