What inspired you to pursue aging research?
I was inspired to pursue aging research because understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging and age-related disorders is essential to improve the quality of life for the elderly and reduce the incidence of aging-associated diseases. My volunteer work with the elderly individuals at a clinic and rest home, reinforced my dedication to making a positive impact on their lives, further motivating me to explore aging-related complexities of the blood and immune system and contribute to rejuvenation strategies.
In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean, for you, to receive an AFAR grant now?
AFAR holds immense value for the aging research field as it empowers researchers to pursue lifelong careers focused on aging and age-related diseases through cutting-edge biomedical research. Being awarded an AFAR grant now is a significant milestone in my early career as a postdoc fellow. It signifies the recognition of my potential and the significance of my research focus on aging and stem cell biology. This prestigious grant will provide me with the necessary support, and resources including the opportunity to be part of AFAR’s excellent network of researchers, and I am eager to make meaningful contributions to the aging field.
What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?
We plan to employ advanced imaging technology to detect three-dimensional associations between bone marrow niche constituents, combined with a comprehensive characterization of megakaryocyte physiology, function, and their impact on supporting blood stem cell function at the single-cell level during aging. Through this research, we aim to uncover mechanisms and factors contributing to the aging of the hematopoietic system, shedding light on disease-driving processes. Furthermore, our findings will contribute to the development of targeted pharmacological therapies aimed at rejuvenating blood stem cells and their bone marrow niches. Ultimately, this knowledge holds the potential to yield novel strategies for improving the health of older individuals by preventing or improving the course of age-associated blood diseases.
How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?
The age-related decline in hematopoietic or immune function involves the progressive reduction in blood or hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity. With age, HSCs gradually lose their self-renewal and regenerative ability leading to impaired immune responses and possibly contributing to the development of blood cancers. HSCs reside within specialized bone marrow niches. Since healthy HSCs are tightly linked with their microenvironment for normal function, HSC aging may be related to the deterioration of the niche. My research seeks to understand the contribution of an important component of the stem cell niche, the megakaryocyte cells, and their secreted factors in the aging of the blood system and test potential HSC rejuvenation therapies.
