Identification and Characterization of Functional Coding Variants in human longevity pathways
Aging increases the risk of age-related diseases. In animal studies, scientists have extended lifespan and healthspan by modifying certain genes. However, it is still unclear if these genes affect human aging. Dr. Ali’s research aims to study the role of longevity genes in humans by studying genetics of a unique group of individuals with exceptional longevity. He proposes that individuals with exceptional longevity are enriched with pro-longevity variants in longevity pathways. To test this, Dr. Ali will apply a unique pipeline to identify functional rare coding variants in these pathways and examine their associations with longevity and age-related diseases. This approach will also aid in identifying existing drugs that target the proteins encoded by longevity genes. Confirming the role of these genes in human aging could lead to new therapeutic interventions to delay aging.
