Humana Foundation Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases) and of Investigative Medicine; Director, Yale Program on Aging; Director, Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center; Director, Yale Center for Disability and Disabling Disorders; Director, Yale Training Program in Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology and Aging-Related Research
Translational Geroscience Initiative
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Overview
The translational geroscience initiative stretches across campus to bring together diverse physician investigators and scientists in areas that are relevant to aging, such as geriatrics, infectious diseases, pulmonary medicine, rheumatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, hematology, endocrinology, and other sections and departments across Yale School of Medicine.
The primary premise underlying the field of translational geroscience is that aging is the major risk factor for most chronic diseases. The geroscience hypothesis purports that significant gains in healthspan, as opposed to lifespan, can only be achieved by intervening upon the fundamental mechanisms of aging. Candidate mechanisms (or hallmarks) of aging include mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, epigenomic alterations, telomere shortening, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication, autophagy, and genome instability. First-generation gerotherapeutics that target these mechanisms of aging are currently being tested in early-stage clinical trials. After proof-of-principle has been established, such agents will be tested in larger clinical trials that focus on clinical and geriatric outcomes, including multimorbidity, frailty and cognitive decline.
By helping to facilitate brainstorming sessions, develop joint grant proposals, and support scientific collaborations across disciplines, the initiative will provide a platform for faculty, trainees, and others to advance geroscience.
Pilot Grant Program
Key Dates
- Due date for letter of intent: January 16, 2024 by 5:00 PM
- Invitation for full proposal issued by: February 2, 2024
- Due date for full application: March 18, 2024 by 5:00 PM
- Earliest anticipated start date: July 1, 2024
Past Recipients
2023 Daniel Jane-Wit “Senescence-Associated Endosomes and Vascular Healthspan” abstract
Visiting Professor Program
The goals of the Visiting Professor Program are to enhance the visibility and prestige of translational geroscience at Yale and to further strengthen collaborations across campus in translational geroscience. Activities include meetings with early-stage investigators, small group discussions of high priority areas, and a scientific presentation at Medical Grand Rounds.
2024 Ana Maria Cuervo
2023 Luigi Ferrucci
Executive Committee
Professor of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases); Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs, Dept Clinical: Internal Medicine
Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Pathology and Professor of Immunobiology; Director, Yale Center for Research on Aging (Y-Age), Pathology
Committee Members
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases); Assistant Professor, Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and of Pathology
Arthur H and Isabel Bunker Professor of Medicine (Hematology) and Professor of Pathology; Chief, Section of Hematology; Director, DeLuca Center for Innovation in Hematology Research, Yale Cancer Center; Assistant Medical Director CRSL, Yale Cancer Center; Chief, Translational Hematology
Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) and Professor of Neuroscience