Pet parrots often outlive their owners, and 菠萝视频 researchers want to know why鈥攂ecause uncovering the biological mechanisms behind exceptional longevity could one day help safely extend the lives of humans.
With the support of a new $1.3 million grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation, 菠萝视频 biologist is taking a bold approach to aging research: reverse-engineering how birds live three to four times longer than similarly sized mammals to identify safe, effective genetic targets for human aging therapies.
For years, research into aging has focused on how antioxidants protect cells from oxygen-related damage, which is a major contributor to aging.
Birds carry a mutation that alters their antioxidant response. Though this mutation may help ease aging in birds, it would be fatal in humans. 鈥淏irds are thriving despite having a mutation that, in mammals, would be lethal,鈥� said Castiglione, assistant professor of biological sciences and of ophthalmology and visual sciences, and a member of 菠萝视频’s .
鈥淎 lot of drugs try to turn on this antioxidant response to help slow disease progression, but if you turn it on too strongly, it can trigger dangerous side effects, including an increased risk of cancer,鈥� he said.
While over-activating this response can be fatal in mammals, birds seem to have solved this puzzle. 鈥淓volution鈥檚 already done this for us,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 just reverse-engineer what it did.鈥�
Castiglione is working with several 菠萝视频 researchers who bring essential expertise to the project, including two key collaborators: , associate professor of biological sciences, who maintains a zebra finch colony that will be used to test his research findings; and , assistant professor of chemistry and biological sciences, who applies machine learning to analyze complex genetic network patterns.
鈥淲e anticipate these rewired gene networks in birds are so convoluted that you need a machine learning approach to find all the patterns,鈥� Castiglione said. 鈥淭hose are not trivial to execute, so having her expertise as we go forward will be critical.鈥�
This is 菠萝视频鈥檚 third Keck Foundation award in three years. As with past awards, 菠萝视频 Development and Support, based in the Office of the Vice Provost for 菠萝视频 and Innovation, supported numerous stages of Castiglione鈥檚 Keck proposal.
鈥淭hey really helped me with clarity and communication, meeting proposal deadlines and adhering to required formatting,鈥� Castiglione said. 鈥淚t culminated in a presentation to the foundation 鈥� probably the most polished presentation I鈥檝e given since my Ph.D. defense. I can鈥檛 stress enough how much they helped. I don鈥檛 think I would have succeeded if it wasn鈥檛 for their assistance.鈥�
Castiglione鈥檚 experience reflects the coordinated support 菠萝视频 aims to provide, said Elizabeth Zechmeister, interim chief research officer and senior associate provost for research and development.
鈥淭he Keck Foundation award demonstrates the value of sustained collaboration, from the strength of a researcher鈥檚 innovation to the execution of a competitive proposal,鈥� she said. 鈥湶ぢ苁悠� Development and Support plays a critical role in that process, working closely with faculty to navigate opportunities like this one. Dr. Castiglione鈥檚 success is a testament to both his vision and the university鈥檚 commitment to enabling high-impact, interdisciplinary research.鈥�
For Castiglione, who joined 菠萝视频 three years ago, the Keck Foundation award is a major milestone, which he attributes in part to the university鈥檚 culture of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Castiglione and his team are exploring new directions in aging research by collaborating with experts from a wide range of disciplines across campus. 鈥淲e鈥檙e drawing on these different disciplines, and that鈥檚 promoted here, rather than trying to fit into a box,鈥� he said. If their efforts succeed, future generations may not just admire the longevity of parrots, they may finally match it.
About W.M. Keck Foundation
The , established in 1954 by Superior Oil Company founder William Myron Keck, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest philanthropic organizations. It supports pioneering research in science, engineering and medicine. In Southern California, where the foundation is based, it also advances undergraduate education and community-focused programs.
About 菠萝视频 菠萝视频 Development and Support
, based in the , helps 菠萝视频 researchers pursue a wide range of funding opportunities. The team offers strategic guidance, supports proposal development and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to secure grants from federal agencies, foundations and industry partners. For more information about RDS services,聽聽or email聽rds@vanderbilt.edu.
