What inspired you to pursue aging research?
I was drawn to aging research because of its potential to significantly improve human health. Understanding the biological processes associated with aging and how these processes can be manipulated to delay or prevent age-associated diseases will ultimately extend the healthy human lifespan and improve the quality of life for older individuals.
In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean, for you, to receive an AFAR grant now?
AFAR is a major contributor to the field of aging research. It not only provides crucial funding and support for scientists working to understand the biological processes of aging, but also has an impressive commitment to fostering careers of junior faculty. As a physician scientist, receiving an AFAR grant is an incredible honor as this grant not only provides financial resources necessary but it also signifies recognition from a prestigious organization. Furthermore, the support from AFAR strengthens my commitment to pursue a career dedicated to improving the health of the aging population.
What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?
Our research seeks to target a fundamental mechanism through which aging causes human disease. If we are successful in identifying why some people but not others are resilient to clonal hematopoiesis we will be able to develop new therapies that target for the first time not just one disease but many diseases linked to aging.
How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?
With age many people develop changes in blood cells. These changes can lead to diseases like cancer, heart disease and dementia. Although >10% of older adults have these changes in their blood some live for years without developing disease. We are using geneticinformation from millions of people to find specific genes and proteins in our bodies that can help prevent these changes and diseases.
