What are the constraints on mammalian lifespan?
Attributed to Naked Mole Rat Cam, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Research overview
Age is the major risk factor for chronic disease. By studying mammalian ageing itself—across tissues (and species)—we hope to identify new interventions for human aging-associated disease.
Ongoing work
The Dark Genome
Throughout evolution viruses have injected their code into mammalian genomes—so much so that ~40-50% of all mammalian genomes are remnants from viral-like code. What does it do? What effect do they have on host-cell physiology, ageing, disease? Using new sequencing-technologies, genome perturbation assays, and animal-models our group is systematically probing their function.
(above: a karyotype labelling in green viral elements embedded in the mouse genome (Boyle et al., 1990). They are everywhere!)
Brain Controls It All
The brain coordinates all physiology. In aging these neural coordination hubs atrophy in surprising ways. We are finding out how these decaying circuits affect our physiology and new methods of targeting these brain regions to reverse aspects of aging.
(above: a whole brain lightsheet image showing neural coordination hubs in an aged mouse brain)
Engineering Healthy Ageing
In the last decade science has developed an unprecedented ability to manipulate the genome in ever more precise ways. In parallel, newly evolved delivery vectors can bring these potent genome editors to specific cell-types and tissue. As we uncover fundamental biology, we will devise new therapeutic interventions to treat human disease.
(above: a new delivery platform delivers gene therapies efficiently to skeletal muscle!)