Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mayo Clinic
Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research - 2022
What inspired you to pursue aging research?
I have been intrigued with the basic molecular mechanisms underlying aging since my undergraduate studies where I noticed a surprising link between two seemingly unrelated process: tRNA splicing and cellular senescence. This unexpected discovery sparked my excitement for aging biology. Naturally, I pursued my PhD studies on cellular senescence in aging and my post-doctoral training on the aging immune system.
In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean for you to receive an AFAR grant now?
Moving from Austria to the US for my graduate studies, AFAR and the Glenn Foundation have quickly become paragons of aging research for me. To me, AFAR represents an extraordinary network of likeminded aging researchers all destined to work on a common goal: investigating the aging process and leveraging insights to advance healthy aging. I have long aspired to becoming part of the AFAR community,and as a current fellowship recipient I feel deeply honored. It also gives me the means and inspiration to pursue my career goal of becoming an independent academic investigator committed to aging research.
What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?
My research utilizes specimens from humans of various ages and times after vaccination with vaccines against Varicella-Zoster virus (causing shingles). This model systems allows for great potential: my research may not only inform on how and why VZV immune memory wanes with age, but it may also more generally allow to expose mechanisms to establish an efficient and long-term immune memory in older adults. This could form the basis for advancing vaccination strategies tailored to the elderly population and therefore support healthy aging.
How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?
Older adults are susceptible to infectious diseases such as shingles. The immune system becomes less efficient with age, but why and how are incompletely understood. As opposed to other adulthood vaccines, an efficient shingles vaccine exists that protects older adults against shingles long-term. My research utilizes shingles immunity during aging and after vaccination of older adults. I aim to understand two critical questions: 1) Why and how does our immune system against shingles deteriorate in older age? 2) What is the secret behind the potent shingles vaccine? Why and how does it confer such a superior immune response? I anticipate that answering these questions will help promote healthy aging by advancing vaccination strategies designed to protect the elderly.
