Abstract
Metabolic changes are of utmost importance for the adaptation to the different nutritional status, from starvation to excess nutrients intake such as observed in obesity. Disturbances of metabolism are also seen during insulin resistance and diabetes. Neurological function is also dependent on metabolic pathways. Immune response, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, are also part of pathological processes that require an adapted metabolic response. The incidence of these pathologies increases in developed and developing world, but today there is no therapeutic approach available to prevent or treat these pathologies effectively. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying the metabolic basis of these pathologies are still not fully understood. The economical and societal cost of metabolic diseases is becoming unsustainable. To contribute to filling this gap, we created a network called LIMNA, for Lausanne Integrative Metabolism and Nutrition Alliance. LIMNA was developed with the financial help of the three major scientific and medical institutions in Lausanne, the EPFL, UNIL, and the CHUV, and then with the sponsoring of the Nestle Institute of Health Sciences. The overall goal of LIMNA is to promote research, education, and communication about nutrition, metabolism, aging and related diseases. LIMNA has already organized six international symposia and four students-oriented meetings. Teams all over Switzerland actively participate in LIMNA. We have allocated eighteen travel grants to students for international meeting attendance. All these events have been very successful and new strategies are now considered. We are currently working in the dissemination of metabolic research to both a scientific and a general audience. LIMNA is today a reference in the metabolic research in Switzerland. We are dedicated to support the growth of this network of scientists and researchers engaged with metabolism’s research and to serve the whole scientific community.