NIH Training Grant in Basic Aging Research
As the U.S. population ages, it is increasingly important that we understand the molecular and cellular basis of aging. Aging is the major risk factor for a broad spectrum of pathologies including cardiovascular dysfunction, cancer, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, type II diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. It is generally accepted that at least some age-related molecular changes are causal factors in the onset of these diseases. It is also clear that individuals differ, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in how they age. Rational approaches to preventing and intervening in age-related processes depend on a thorough understanding of the molecular, cellular and physiologic basis of human aging, as well as the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to inter-individual differences.
This proposed training program brings together cell and molecular biologists and physiologists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the University of California Berkeley (UCB) who share contiguous and overlapping facilities in Berkeley, CA. The program offers outstanding research training in the genetic and environmental factors that influence aging rates, and in the molecular cellular and physiological causes and consequences of aging in mammals. The proposed trainers are experienced investigators with diverse but complementary research interests and experimental approaches. the training program will be enhanced by the strong biomedical research community that exists in the Berkeley/San Francisco Bay area, and the growing commitment to aging research at LBNL.
The proposed training program is for individuals holding a Ph.D. or M.D. degree, and interest in career in aging research. In addition to the research projects described herein, the trainees will attend regular seminars and research meetings that will provide them with a broad education in aging and related topics and critical feedback on their research projects. The research facilities available to trainees include the Center for Functional Imaging with its ability to produce short-lived isotopes for use in PET and MRI scans, a barrier and transgenic mouse facility, a high throughput DNA sequencing facility, the Resource for Molecular Cytogenetics with its emphasis on positional cloning and functional genomics, and extensive cell culture and molecular biology facilities.
FACULTY
Judith Campisi Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Program Director Bruce Ames UC Berkeley Preceptor Thomas Budinger Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
UC San FranciscoPreceptor William Jagust Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
UC DavisPreceptor Arnold Kahn UC San Francisco Executive Committee Member Yoshinori Kohwi Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Preceptor Ronald Krauss Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Preceptor Stuart Linn UC Berkeley Preceptor
Research Specialties in Relation to Aging
Research Area Preceptors Projects in Preceptor's Laboratory Cellular Senescence Campisi Senescence-specific gene expression; cell cycle regulation; cell senescence in vivo. Ames Role of exidative damage and mitochondrial function in cell senescence. Linn Mechanisms of DNA replication Genetic Factors Campisi Senescence and longevity in genes; Werner's syndrome, telomere biology Krauss Lipoprotein genes; genetic loci for cardiovascular disease and aging Oxidative Damage Ames Role of oxidative damage in cancer and aging; tissue differences in generation and repair of oxidative damage; mutagenesis Krauss Oxidation of lipoproteins; oxidation-induced changes in gene expression Linn Repair of oxidatively damaged DNA Neurodegeneration Budinger Metabolism and blood flow imaging in normal, diseased, and aging brain. Jagust Brain imaging during cognitive and functional decline due to aging, Alzhheimer's and Parkinson's disease; brain imaging for gene therapy. Kohwi Molecular biology of triplet repeat binding protein; brain physiology and triplet repeat binding protein function Cancer Ames Oxidative DNA damage and carcinogen-induced cell proliferation in cancer Budinger Development of imaging probes for primary tumors and metastases Campisi Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in immortalization; role of cell senescence in tumorigenesis Kohwi Role of DNA structure in carcinogen-DNA interactions Linn Mechanisms of DNA damage and repair.
