What inspired you to pursue aging research?
Living a long and healthy life is a universal aspiration. Beyond the simple wish to extend our experiences and enjoy life to the fullest, aging stands as a primary risk factor for a wide array of health issues, ranging from cancer and heart disease to mental disorders. The exploration of aging research for me is maybe the closest link between the science lab and everyone’s life. Everyone ages! I made a pivotal decision to dedicate my career to unraveling the mysteries of aging, applying my unique ideas and technological expertise to decode the complex processes of how we age.
In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean, for you, to receive an AFAR grant now?
Grants from foundations and federations play a pivotal role in the careers of academic researchers, especially those in the early stages. While these grants often cover shorter periods compared to funding from organizations like the NIH or NSF, they are crucial in sparking enthusiasm and laying the groundwork for comprehensive research programs. I have been very blessed with all the support I received from AFAR (first the Sagol Network GerOmics award, now the Hevolution grant). This instills a deep sense of responsibility in me to use these funds to move our field forward.
What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?
We are so excited about our work on histone succinylation and its potential to protect DNA from the detrimental effects of aging. Our results could open up exciting new avenues in longevity research. By understanding how succinylation impacts cellular integrity and gene regulation, we could revolutionize strategies for delaying age-related decline. This has profound implications for not just extending lifespan, but also for enhancing the quality of life, positioning chromatin modifications under the spotlight of innovative aging research.
How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?
Our research aims to understand if the decondensation of DNA occurring during aging is the critical trigger of the aging cascade itself. We study proteins around which DNA is folded, and whether they have different modifications in young individuals vs old vs individuals with exceptional longevity. We now found a modification that is produced by our own metabolism, and we want to understand if it protects DNA as we age, and whether we can accumulate it with our diet. To do so, we use instruments that cost millions of dollars, as well as a team of 10+ specialized scientists. We are very fortunate that Foundations like AFAR provide funding to sponsor this expensive but very important science. If we are successful, we will be able to potentially help us live longer and healthier lives.
