CHIRI Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Federica Tomay is part of a team working to turn back the clock on immune system decline with ageing, with a particular focus on muscle repair.

Declined immune function slows healing and delays tissue regeneration, making the elderly more prone to injury and two times more likely than young people to develop complications following injury.

Immune cells, particularly macrophages, play a pivotal role in muscle recovery, however little is known about their function and impact on regeneration during ageing. By targeting these cells, the team hopes to identify the mechanism by which they affect this process. Their goal is to develop treatments to accelerate muscle repair and improve quality of life for people with muscle injury.

Watch this short video to find out more about Dr Tomay’s research.