Dr. Rando will carry out a new line of research that goes back to the classic paper by John Cairns concerning what is often referred to as the “immortal strand” hypothesis of DNA replication – a fundamental question in biology and one with clear relevance to the biology of aging. Dr. Rando will investigate how stem cells are able to divide throughout the life of an individual to give rise to new cells in tissue, such as new skin cells or cells in the blood, without acquiring mutations in their DNA and causing cancer. He will seek to identify ways the body is able to limit the development of cancer as individuals age, a time when the disease is most likely to occur. Understanding these basic mechanisms may also reveal ways in which cancer could be further prevented or treated.

One of the most widely accepted theories in aging research is the free radical or oxidative stress theory of aging, which states that age-related loss of physiological function is due to the progressive accumulation of oxidative damage. Dr. Ikeno’s research seeks to understand the protective role of a major antioxidant in obese mammals. His initial research found that overexpression of the antioxidant Cu/ZnSOD resulted in a significant increased lifespan and a reduction in age-related pathologies in a strain of rat that is characterized by obesity. These findings did not occur in mice that were not obese. Dr. Ikeno’s research will further determine whether overexpression of Cu/ZnSOD will increase lifespan and reduce age-related pathologies in other obese rodents, such as mice fed a high-fat diet. The outcome of his research could provide important clues in preventing age-related pathological changes associated with obesity in humans.

"We encourage researchers to pursue high-risk or novel hypotheses toward understanding the biology of aging," said Mark R. Collins, president of the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research. "Our hope is that these awards lead to new insights into the molecular factors that coordinate aging in multiple cells and tissues," he added.

"The goal of these awards is to increase the odds that we will all live healthier for a much longer period of time," said Stephanie Lederman, executive director, American Federation for Aging Research.

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The American Federation for Aging Research is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support biomedical research on aging. It is devoted to creating the knowledge that all of us need to live healthy, productive, and independent lives. Since 1981, AFAR has awarded more than $113 million to nearly 2,500 talented scientists as part of its broad-based series of grant programs. Its work has led to significant advances in our understanding of the aging process, age-related diseases, and healthy aging practices. AFAR communicates news of these innovations through its organizational web site www.afar.org and educational web sites Infoaging (www.infoaging.org) and Health Compass (www.healthcompass.org).