2023

Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research


Zhu Headshot

Bokai Zhu, PhD

Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Rejuvenation of nuclear speckles to delay aging

The decline of proteostasis, encompassing the vital processes of protein production, secretion, and degradation, is intricately linked with the onset of aging and associated diseases. This connection underscores the critical need for innovative strategies to restore and maintain proteostasis, thereby potentially delaying the aging process and enhancing both health and lifespan. Dr. Zhu’s recent research highlights the importance of a dynamic process called nuclear speckles liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in overseeing the overall protein health network. Dr. Zhu’s project is focused on advancing this understanding by genetically and pharmacologically enhancing the dynamics of nuclear speckles, an approach he refers to as "nuclear speckle rejuvenation." By doing so, he aims to significantly improve protein health, which is fundamental in maintaining cellular function and overall organismal vitality, to combat aging.

More 2023 Recipients of this Grant

Maxwell Wilson, PhD

Unraveling Aging Mysteries through Optogenetic Dissection of ISR Dysregulation

Maxwell Wilson
Reyhan Westbrook, PhD

Leveraging Kynurenine Pathway Manipulation to Improve Metabolic Dysfunction and Extend Healthspan in Mice

Reyhan Westbrook
Siyuan Wang, PhD

Developing a high-content spatial transcriptomic screen method to discover novel regulators of cell-cell interaction in the native senescent microenvironment

Siyuan Wang
Simone Sidoli, PhD

Inhibition of MTCH2 as a novel modality for ageing therapy

Simone Sidoli
Payel Sen, PhD

Targeting epigenetic mechanisms in progenitor cells for functional rejuvenation of whole organs

Payel Sen
Sreemathi Logan, PhD

Delineating senescence in the context of brain-adipose axis in aging

Sreemathi Logan
Janine Kwapis, PhD

Reversing an epigenetic mechanism that limits memory flexibility in old age

Janine Kwapis
Dan Jane-wit, MD PhD

Complement Protein Aggregates in Age-Related Amyloidosis

Dan Jane-wit
Sung Min Han, PhD

Exploring the Systemic Regulation of Organismal Longevity and Health through Individual Neuron Mitochondrial Stress

Sung Min Han
Bhanu Ganesh, PhD

Aging Together: The Role of The Gut Microbiota and Its Influence on Host Immunity

Bhanu Ganesh
Luke Evans, PhD

GENE-GENE INTERACTION ASSOCIATIONS WITH FRAILTY TO IDENTIFY CORE GENES OF AGING AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL CONTEXT

Luke Evans
Jason DeFreitas, PhD

Mechanisms of Degradation across the Lifespan: The Role of Descending Tract Function on Age-Related Sensory-Motor Deficits

Jason DeFreitas
Caitlin Davis, PhD

Spatiotemporal Rewiring of Lipid Metabolism in Aging Tissues

Caitlin Davis
Alexander Bick, MD PhD

Identifying clonal hematopoiesis resiliency mechanisms

Alexander Bick
Kevin Beier, PhD

Do aging-related neuropathologies spread through neuronal synapses?

Kevin Beier
Jonathan Gootenberg, PhD

Discovery and manipulation of transcription factors stem cell rejuvenation in aged bone-marrow

Jonathan Gootenberg