Advancing Research
by funding Grant Programs and Fellowships
Driving Innovation
by guiding studies such as the FAST Initiative, the SuperAgers Initiative, and the TAME Trial
Furthering the Field
by supporting the infrastructure of three NIA Initiatives and leading the Amplifying Geroscience Initiative.
Top Breakthroughs driven by AFAR Experts
Delaying Disease by Targeting Aging
Saving Costs by Extending Healthspan
What are the Hallmarks of Aging?
How and Why Do We Age?
What is Geroscience?
What is the Longevity Dividend?
What's Next in aging research?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability that affects over 30 million adults in the United States. The major risk factor is aging. There are currently no disease-modifying treatments for OA and the exact mechanisms how aging contributes to the development of OA remains unknown. Dr. John Collins aims to identify the specific age-related pathways responsible for cartilage degradation and cell death. This research will specifically seek to determine the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to reduce activity of a gene related to aging (SIRT6) in vitro in normal, young, old, and OA human cells. Dr. Collins will also study the effects of cartilage-specific deletion of SIRT6 on the development and progression of OA in vivo in mouse models. The finding of this study could lead to new therapies with a more targeted approach aimed at specific pathways affected by aging and oxidative stress to be developed to slow or stop OA progression.
