A valuable resource is
being developed for scientists world wide who are attempting to unravel
the mystery of aging, the single largest risk factor for human disease
in developed countries. A unique research network, funded by the Larry
L. Hillblom Foundation and led by scientists at the Buck Institute,
will screen as many as 120,000 chemical compounds over the next four
years to discover which ones impact lifespan in four research models -
yeast, nematode worms, fruit flies and mice. Results of the work,
unprecedented in terms of scale for chemical screening, will be made
public.
The research highlights a new area of science: the chemical
biology of aging. Using high-tech methodology, the network aims to
identify potential "needles in a haystack" of chemicals, giving age
researchers new starting points for experiments based on compounds that
have never been considered as candidates for lifespan extension.
"We believe this is the first true chemical exploration of
lifespan extension across multiple species," said Gordon Lithgow, PhD,
Buck Institute faculty member and project leader. "Our aim is to
discover and develop novel compounds; at the very least we hope to
identify 100 chemically distinct compounds that slow aging, opening up
new avenues to treat, prevent or postpone age-related conditions such
as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, arthritis, and diabetes, among others."
A number of Buck Institute faculty members will be initial members of
the network, including Robert E. Hughes, PhD; Simon Melov, PhD; and
Pankaj Kapahi, PhD. Laura Dugan, MD, Professor of Geriatric Medicine at
the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine will also be
included in the research project.
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