The objective of this project is to accelerate the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics that delay aging and could be used in the treatment of age-related diseases. To this end, researchers are developing a process that allows them to quickly identify candidate anti-aging compounds based on their effects on cell division parameters. Researchers then evaluate the ability of these compounds to delay aging of single-celled and invertebrate model organisms. Other approaches to identify compounds that delay aging focus on modulation of gene products implicated in aging. The approach used through this work selects compounds for further study based on their effects on cell division. This process may be more unbiased and may allow for a much quicker evaluation of candidate therapeutics.
Building on previous research, this project, if successful, plans to develop technology and products to applications that could benefit society. Current approaches to treat age-related pathologies are frequently disease-specific. The approach used in this project is designed to modulate the aging process itself, potentially influencing the outcome of diseases for which age is a key risk factor.
Aging is the greatest risk factor of numerous diseases, such as most forms of cancer, stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, heart disease and diabetes. Together, these diseases account for the majority of deaths globally. Hence, delaying aging therapeutically promises incalculable potential benefits to human health. Current approaches to identify chemicals that delay aging are limited by their focus on modulation of gene products that have already been implicated in aging. We developed a cell-based assay for the rapid and unbiased identification of chemicals with the potential to delay aging. Importantly, our approach does not require prior knowledge of the cellular molecular pathways that such chemicals modify. Our unbiased strategy identifies compounds with anti-aging properties based on their effects on cell division. We have already identified compounds that extend the lifespan of two model systems: the single-celled budding yeast, and the invertebrate worm C. elegans. We also analyzed the effects of these compounds on the cellular metabolic state. We discovered that each compound affects profoundly, but differently, cellular metabolism. We explored the commercialization potential of our novel platform. We received training by the I-CORPS team at the University of Michigan, and we talked to more than 80 'customers' that evaluated our plan. We now have a clear path towards commercialization, once we determine the mechanism of action of our lead compound and perform initial testingin animals. The platform we have developed will lead to new therapeutics for the treatment of age-related disorders, including cancer, diabetes ad Alzheimer's disease.
