What inspired you to pursue aging research?
Aging is a universal topic and a prominent aspect of modern society. During my Ph.D. training, I became very interested in the research of iPS cell reprogramming and stem cell differentiation. I believed, at that time, that stem cell differentiation is valuable in tissue regeneration and in treating of diseases of aging, such as neurodegenerative diseases. However, when I learned more, I came to the realization that simply transplanting differentiated cells in diseased tissues is not enough. During aging, the microenvironment of aged and diseased tissues is tremendously different from the healthy tissues, which renders stem cell-based regeneration less effective. I need to understand and figure out the fundamental mechanisms of aging and age-associated phenotypes to develop appropriate therapies for age-associated diseases. That’s why I joined Dr. Zhixun Dou lab at MGH and Harvard to study inflammation and aging.
In your view, what does AFAR mean to the field, and what does it mean, for you, to receive an AFAR grant now?
In my point of view, AFAR is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing healthy aging, which has significantly contributed to the aging research field. Every year, AFAR provides grants to researchers at various stages of their careers, including students to senior PI. Additionally, AFAR fosters communication and collaboration among scientists and clinicians from different institutes in aging research, which can help build up aging communities to facilitate research.
For me, I believe this AFAR postdoctoral fellowship will be a great catalyst for both my project and my career. I can earn this prestigious opportunity to work with AFAR, interact with AFAR community, and expand my network and skills through attending the educational programs, conferences and various workshops offered by AFAR.
What is exciting about your research’s potential impact?
Chronic inflammation in senescence and aging is an important topic for aging research. While CCF is considered as a key trigger for inflammation, the mechanisms that generate CCF are poorly understood. I am excited to answer two key unaddressed questions regarding the mechanism of CCF formation and how nutrient metabolism connects to inflammation. I am also excited about the project’s potential to identify new therapeutic interventions for age-associated inflammation.
How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?
Genomic DNA, a nuclear entity in a cell that contains genomic message, can be abnormally shuttled to the cytoplasm during aging, leading to inflammation. This proposal studies how fragments of genomic DNA are shuttled from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and how to block this pro-inflammatory process via metabolic changes. This study will offer novel insights into age-associated inflammation, with the potential to develop new strategies to suppress inflammation and to promote healthy aging.
