Within the PAS GRAS consortium, there are multiple human intervention studies and experimental models being studied to complement our work. Another major aim of PAS GRAS work is to undertake educational and outreach activities to implement change and to reduce the incidence of obesity and related co-morbidites. With the formation of OBEClust, we now have an unprecedented opportunity to share findings across multiple large consortia, accelerating the discovery and implementation of effective therapeutic strategies.”
Dr Afshan Malik from the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences.
04 March 2025
King's supports research collaboration to address obesity crisis
Researchers have united to form OBEClust, a multidisciplinary network of experts to develop solutions for obesity.
Dr Afshan Malik, Reader in Mitochondrial and Diabetes Research at King’s, is supporting a major new European research collaboration which aims to tackle obesity. As an associate partner in the PAS GRAS project, Dr Malik is contributing to the formation of OBEClust—the European Cluster of Obesity Research Projects—which brings together a multidisciplinary network of experts and resources to develop real solutions for obesity prevention and treatment.
PAS GRAS is a consortium of 16 partners from academia, industry, and non-profit associations across eight European countries. As part of this project, which aims to tackle obesity and related co-morbidities in the young population of Europe and the UK through a combination of scientific and educational strategies, Dr Malik’s lab is using cell models and data from the UK Biobank to study the impact of obesity on metabolic health and co-morbidities. Their research focuses on mitochondrial markers to detect risk and improve early intervention.
Obesity has reached epidemic levels, affecting over one billion people worldwide, with childhood obesity rising at an alarming rate. The World Obesity Federation predicts the number of children affected will double between 2020 and 2035, leading to severe long-term health consequences and increased strain on healthcare systems.
Recognising the urgency of this crisis, OBEClust unites leading researchers across disciplines to strengthen interventions, develop policy recommendations, and ensure that findings translate into impactful, evidence-based solutions. OBEClust is backed by €80 million in research funding from the European Union, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee.
PAS GRAS integrates rigorous scientific research with literacy through a multifaceted, interdisciplinary campaign implemented across multiple partner countries. We strongly believe that this initiative will make a significant impact on the rising obesity rates in Europe. Our scientific and literacy strategies will leverage Obeclust, creating synergies with the diverse resources within each cluster project to maximize effectiveness and impact on the rising curves of obesity incidence. Dr Malik’s group at King’s has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the various determinants of obesity, playing a crucial role in identifying biomarkers and designing innovative interventions."
Paulo Oliveira, chair of OBEClust and coordinator of the PAS GRAS project.
Through her involvement in PAS GRAS and OBEClust, Dr Malik is advancing obesity research, seizing a unique opportunity to combine findings and drive change. As the research progresses, updates on intervention strategies and policy recommendations will be shared to support long-term, sustainable solutions for obesity prevention and treatment.
In this story
Reader in Mitochondrial and Diabetes Research