Aging Biology

Overview

Exploring Molecular Mechanisms of Lifespan & Cellular Resilience

Aging biology investigates the fundamental biological mechanisms driving organismal aging, cellular senescence, and longevity regulation. By exploring key molecular hallmarks such as metabolic pathways, mitochondrial homeostasis, and epigenetic modifications, researchers develop strategies to extend healthspan and mitigate age-related functional decline.

In this program, students engage with modern geroscience methodologies, focusing on laboratory model construction, high-throughput screening for anti-aging small molecules, and target discovery for age-related conditions. Through structured, hypothesis-driven projects, participants master experimental design, quantitative data modeling, and translation into biotechnology innovation.

Selected Topics

Cellular Senescence & SASP Biomarker Analysis

Students measure senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity and secretome dynamics in stress-induced cellular aging models.

Mitochondrial Homeostasis & ROS Quantification

Investigates age-related mitochondrial membrane potential decay and reactive oxygen species accumulation through fluorescent assays.

Caloric Restriction Mimetics & Nutrient Sensing

Explores AMPK and mTOR pathway modulation following treatment with candidate small-molecule longevity compounds in cell culture systems.

DNA Methylation Profiling & Epigenetic Age Estimation

Evaluates multi-locus genomic methylation profiles across biological age models using bioinformatic algorithms to perform epigenetic age estimation.

Telomere Dynamics & Telomerase Activity

Analyzes telomeric repeat length attrition during successive cell divisions and quantifies enzymatic activation by natural extracts.

Compound Screening for Longevity Extension

Screens candidate small-molecule libraries for their capacity to enhance oxidative stress survival and extend functional healthspan in model organisms.

Sample Project Design

Modeling of Long-Lived Genetic Mice & Anti-Aging Interventions

In this guided research project, students evaluate metabolic resilience and tissue biomarker profiles in long-lived genetic rodent models subjected to small-molecule longevity interventions.

Research Question

How do specific longevity gene modifications and caloric restriction mimetics impact cellular senescence markers and metabolic function in mammalian models?

Sample Project Design - Long-Lived Genetic Mouse Research

Laboratory Activities

Students execute hands-on experimental protocols, including:

Phenotyping physical and metabolic variations between control and long-lived genetic transgenic mouse lines.
Isolating tissue samples to measure metabolic turnover, mitochondrial health, and ROS production.
Formulating precise compound dosing regimens for caloric restriction mimetics in controlled cohorts.
Quantifying cellular senescence markers (SA-β-galactosidase, p16, SASP factors) in primary cells.
Recording and standardizing longitudinal physiological measurements across age-matched groups.
Identifying potential sources of biological variability and technical assay limitations.

Data Analysis & Evaluation

Transforming raw data into meaningful scientific conclusions:

Visual Presentation Students construct survival curves, metabolic rate charts, and tissue fluorescence micrographs comparing experimental conditions.

Hypothesis Testing Under mentor guidance, students perform statistical tests to evaluate whether genetic alterations or compound treatments significantly delay senescence.

Next-Step Planning Students discuss experimental bounds and outline follow-up studies, such as multi-omics RNA-seq profiling or tissue-specific target validation.

Industry Context & Translational Research

This project connects foundational longevity science with early-stage biopharmaceutical discovery, illustrating how animal model findings inform modern anti-aging therapeutic pipelines.

Target Identification Validating key molecular drivers (e.g., mTOR, Sirtuins, AMPK) to confirm therapeutic candidates selectively target aging pathways.

Model Standardization Establishing reproducible rodent disease and longevity models to ensure high-fidelity translational data across research teams.

Lead Optimization Evaluating small-molecule bioavailability, organ tissue distribution, and target affinity in primary mammalian tissue models.

Commercial Development Analyzing regulatory pathways, safety margins, and scalability considerations for novel healthspan extension compounds.

Possible Project Outputs

Depending on individual progress, deliverables may include:

→ Structured, audit-ready experimental research notebook
→ Comprehensive dataset on tissue senescence markers and longevity curves
→ Formal research report on transgenic model phenotyping
→ Scientific poster presentation on candidate longevity compounds
→ Experimental protocol proposal for follow-up biomarker assays

Experimental Translation

Scientific research extends into real-world biotechnology. Through supervised discussions, students analyze:

› How animal model data support candidate anti-aging compound selection.
› How genetic mouse phenotyping guides therapeutic target selection in R&D.
› How intellectual property, assay repeatability, and drug safety profile shape commercial biotechnology decisions.