The National Institutes of Health will award up to $4 million over five years to establish a coordinating center for research on aging. Led by the Tulane National Primate Research Center and developed in partnership with the California National Primate Research Center and Baylor College of Medicine, the coordinating center will focus on advancing aging research through studies of nonhuman primates.
The Coordinating Center for Primate Aging Research will unite leading researchers to build a comprehensive infrastructure for aging studies, emphasizing the harmonizing and integration of data across multiple projects. The center will facilitate collaboration by creating working groups and a dedicated platform for sharing data, best practices, and research findings. It will coordinate efforts across seven complementary grants, all aimed at identifying factors that influence aging and longevity.
“Our goal is to enhance the quality of aging research by ensuring that studies are effectively coordinated and data is easily accessible,” said Jay Rappaport, Tulane National Primate Research Center director. “This center will serve as a hub for researchers working to understand the biological processes that influence aging, with the potential to uncover new ways to promote healthier, longer lives.”
Nonhuman primates share many physiological, genetic, and neurobiological traits with humans. While some species live less than five years, others can live for 50 years or more. By studying the differences in life spans, life histories, and aging outcomes between humans and various nonhuman primates, researchers aim to pinpoint key factors that drive the aging process. Understanding these factors could pave the way for new strategies to promote healthier aging in humans.
The National Institute on Aging, part of the NIH, funds the aging coordinating center.