Aging mechanisms in primates: how the epigenome may drive aging and disease
Official title: Project 2: Mechanisms
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11435946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists will study how changes in DNA methylation may influence aging and the risk of age-related diseases using rhesus monkeys and a large biobank.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $638,544 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AG092410-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11435946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with age-related risk factors or interested in aging research through existing human data collaborations or biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefit to patients may be limited since the study uses non-human primates, but insights could inform human aging therapies.
What this research studies
This project looks at how epigenetic changes, especially DNA methylation, might cause differences in aging and related diseases across organs in non-human primates. By analyzing data from the CayoBank biobank and the rhesus macaque colony, researchers will link epigenomic patterns to gene expression and disease risk. They will use statistical methods to identify potential epigenomic drivers and then test these findings with massively parallel reporter assays and ex vivo experiments to see where methylation affects gene activity. The work aims to distinguish epigenomic changes that cause aging from those that are a consequence, with the goal of informing future therapies for aging-related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal targets to slow aging processes and reduce age-related disease risk in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in aging epigenomics has identified relationships between DNA methylation and aging, with translational potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Snyder-Mackler, Noah — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Snyder-Mackler, Noah
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.