What inspired you to pursue aging research?
Aging is not the breakdown of a single pathway; it’s the gradual loss of complex, integrated networks that affect the cell as a whole system. As these networks become dysfunctional, the consequences extend to tissues, organs, and ultimately the entire body. Aging research spans all of these layers, and tracing them back to cellular phenotypes to uncover mechanisms that might delay decline feels like working on a fascinating puzzle.
In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean, for you, to receive an AFAR grant now?
AFAR’s focus on healthy aging represents an important shift in the field; one that emphasizes not just extending lifespan, but extending healthspan, so that we can enjoy a greater proportion of our lives in good health. Receiving an AFAR grant has given me the opportunity to pursue experiments I would not have otherwise been able to undertake. These studies will lay the foundation for my own future research as an independent investigator and contribute to a new perspective on metabolic signaling.
What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?
What’s exciting about this research is its potential to overcome a major limitation in targeting a well-known aging pathway. mTORC1 has long been recognized as a central regulator of aging, but clinical efforts to inhibit it have been hampered by toxicity and lack of precision. This project takes a fundamentally new approach by targeting mTORC1 based on its location within the cell, acknowledging that its roles are compartment-specific, not uniform. By generating rich, high-dimensional datasets spanning transcriptomics, epigenetics, and metabolism, this work will not only deepen our understanding of how mTORC1 drives stem cell aging but also provide a valuable resource for the broader scientific community. Ultimately, the project aims to identify precise, compartment-specific targets that could lead to safer and more effective interventions for aging-related decline in blood and immune systems.
How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?
You can think of a cell like a house. Each room serves a general purpose. For example, one cooks in the kitchen, relaxes in the living room, sleeps in the bedrooms, and within each room, there are multiple specific tasks happening: chopping vegetables, washing dishes, watching TV, and reading. The same is true in cells. mTORC1 is a key regulator that operates in different parts or “rooms” of the cell, and its function depends on where it is. In one location, it may be controlling metabolism; in another, gene expression or protein production. As cells age, some of these location-specific tasks start to break down, but we don't yet know which ones matter most for stem cell function. This research compares young and old stem cells to map out which “rooms” are malfunctioning and which specific tasks are affected. The goal is to develop targeted strategies to restore only the compromised functions as opposed to shutting down the whole system, leading to more precise and safer interventions for aging.
