Systems biology study of aging in pet dogs
Official title: Project 3: Systems Biology Multi-omic Studies of Healthy Aging in Companion Dogs
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11420294 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging, the biggest risk for many diseases, will be studied in pet dogs by looking at how genes, the microbiome, metabolism, and epigenetics together influence healthy aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $886,806 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AG092282-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420294 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pet dogs whose owners are willing to participate in multi-domain sampling and longitudinal aging assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Owners of dogs that cannot participate in longitudinal sampling or have health issues limiting participation may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project uses companion dogs to explore how genetic and environmental factors shape aging by examining three biological layers: the metabolome, microbiome, and epigenome. Researchers will collect and analyze data across these domains to build a more realistic model of aging in dogs. The goal is to connect genetic and environmental variation to aging traits in a way that could inform human aging in the future. The work combines expertise across multiple domains to create integrated aging insights.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve our understanding of aging biology and inform strategies to promote healthier aging in both dogs and humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that multi-omic profiling can reveal important aging-related patterns, though applying it to dogs is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Promislow, Daniel Edward — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Promislow, Daniel Edward
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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.