Advancing Research
by funding Grant Programs and Fellowships
Driving Innovation
by guiding studies such as the FAST Initiative, the SuperAgers Initiative, and the TAME Trial
Furthering the Field
by supporting the infrastructure of three NIA Initiatives and leading the Amplifying Geroscience Initiative.
Top Breakthroughs driven by AFAR Experts
Delaying Disease by Targeting Aging
Saving Costs by Extending Healthspan
What are the Hallmarks of Aging?
How and Why Do We Age?
What is Geroscience?
What is the Longevity Dividend?
What's Next in aging research?
As we age, mucosal sites, i.e. surfaces that are in contact with the external environment, become increasingly susceptible to infections such as flu and pneumonia. However, little is known about what causes the decline in mucosal immune protection during aging. In the proposed research, Dr. Claire Gustafson seeks to fill a gap in our understanding of mucosal immunity during aging by establishing basic parameters of normal mucosal immune responses in young and older adults and developing improved tools for studying human mucosal immune function. Dr. Gustafson will be studying a specific type of cell that promotes protective immunity in mucosal tissues in young adults, but becomes less effective as we age. By investigating the role of these cells in declining immune response with age, this research seeks to provide the information for potential therapeutic interventions to improve mucosal immunity and prevent infection in older adults.
