What inspired you to pursue aging research?
With a multidisciplinary background, I’ve had the opportunity to study a range of human disease models, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease. What stood out to me across these different conditions is that aging is the most significant common risk factor. This realization sparked my deep interest in aging research. I was struck by the fact that, despite its profound impact on nearly every chronic disease, we still don’t fully understand what drives the aging process. Through my work, I hope to uncover mechanisms of aging that not only help us better understand disease but also open new paths to promote healthier aging and improve overall quality of life.
In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean, for you, to receive an AFAR grant now?
To me, AFAR represents leadership, vision, and community in the field of aging research. AFAR has played a key role in shaping the field by supporting innovative science and fostering the next generation of researchers who are passionate about improving health in aging populations.
Receiving an AFAR Junior Faculty Award at this stage of my career is incredibly meaningful. It not only supports my research into how the brain’s immune system influences whole-body aging, but also gives me the confidence to pursue bold, interdisciplinary questions. As someone trained across multiple disease models, I’ve come to see aging as the common thread. AFAR’s support allows me to focus on that thread and explore new ways to promote healthy aging. I’m deeply honored and grateful.
What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?
What excites me most is the possibility that targeting the brain’s immune system could have wide-reaching benefits for the entire body. Traditionally, aging has been studied organ by organ, but our recent findings suggest that immune activity in the brain, particularly in microglia, can influence metabolism, inflammation, and function in distant organs.
If we can better understand how the brain communicates with the rest of the body during aging, we may uncover entirely new strategies to delay or even prevent multiple age-related diseases at once. That kind of systemic benefit is rare in biomedical research. The idea that improving brain immune balance could support healthier aging across the whole body is both scientifically exciting and deeply motivating, and it could change the way we think about treating aging and chronic disease.
How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?
As we get older, our bodies go through many changes that increase the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and memory loss. My research looks at how the brain’s immune system might play a key role in driving these age-related changes—not just in the brain, but throughout the whole body.
I study a molecule called cGAS that becomes too active in aging brains. It can cause inflammation, memory issues, and even affect how the body handles weight and blood sugar. We’ve found that turning off this molecule in the brain can improve both memory and overall health in aging mice.
Now, I’m working to understand how calming the brain’s immune response by inhibiting cGAS might slow down aging in other organs. The goal is to discover new strategies that promote better health throughout aging.
