Miranda Orr, PhD

What inspired you to pursue aging research?

The biology of aging field has potential to positively impact multiple aspects of overall health in a major way. Understanding the basic biology of aging will provide insights into how/why the the risk of developing chronic diseases increases with age. Ultimately this knowledge can be used to delay and/or prevent age-associated disease and disability and extend healthy aging.

In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean for you to receive an AFAR grant now?

I am honored to receive an award from AFAR, particularly at this time in my career when I am building my research program and network. The AFAR positively, and significantly, impacts human health by providing funding and support for innovative research, fostering and encouraging collaborations among scientists and clinicians at all career stages, and sponsoring meetings to share ideas all with the goal of extending the disease-free, “healthy” years of life. I am looking forward to interacting with other AFAR-supported investigators, expanding my research network and contributing to breakthroughs in our understanding of the neurobiology of aging.

What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?

We may uncover a new process by which aging neurons contribute to chronic brain diseases and dysfunction. These results have potential to transcend brain aging and apply to multiple neurodegenerative diseases and neurological conditions.

How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?

My AFAR-funded research project will advance our knowledge on how aging neurons, the brain cells responsible for creating, storing and retrieving memories, contribute to brain dysfunction and memory loss. We will also study the impact of senescent cell targeting therapies on healthy brain cells to gain information on whether this may be a safe approach to pursue as a potential dementia prevention therapy.