Understanding how certain fish survive extreme conditions to help combat aging
Official title: Decoding natural protective mechanisms during diapause and longevity to counter aging
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10687588 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the African turquoise killifish can pause its aging process to survive tough conditions, and by learning from these fish, researchers hope to find new ways to help people live healthier and longer, especially those dealing with age-related issues like Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,395,075 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2AG086979-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10687588 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21, particularly those at risk for or suffering from age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute or non-age-related conditions may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the unique survival adaptations of the African turquoise killifish, which can enter a state of suspended animation to survive harsh environments. By studying these extremophiles, researchers aim to uncover novel genes and mechanisms that could help slow aging and improve health outcomes in humans. The project focuses on understanding how these fish manage to pause their aging process during diapause, potentially offering insights into longevity and age-related diseases. Patients may benefit from findings that could lead to new treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in therapies that slow aging and improve health in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of studying extremophiles for aging research is relatively novel, similar studies have shown promise in understanding longevity mechanisms in other species.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Param Priya — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Singh, Param Priya
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.