Nov 9, 2023

NEW YORK, NY and SANTA BARBARA, CA — The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) and the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research. This program supports postdoctoral fellowswho study basic research mechanisms of aging and/or translational findings that have potential to directly benefit human health. Selected through a rigorous review process, ten, one-year, $75,000 Postdoctoral Fellowships have been awarded this year to advance research on a range of topics in the biology of aging and geroscience: Turan Aghayev, MD, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCSF: Role of an exercise liver-to-brain rejuvenation axis in restoring regenerative and cognitive function in aging Zhongchi Li, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, Weill Cornell Medicine: Investigating the role of propionate metabolism in aging Ting Miao, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School Department of Genetics: The pathophysiological role of gut microbiota-derived acetate under aging Daniel Robinson, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford University: Identifying the upstream regulators of the gerozyme 15-PGDH to mitigate its overexpression in aging and maintain tissue homeostasis and health Zachary Sebo, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University: Molecular Basis of Metformin Action in Treating Age-Related Disease Gunjan Singh, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brown University: Determining the role of Dosage Compensation Complex in regulation of sex-specific aging of brain Lichao Wang, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Connecticut Health Center: Gut microbiome changes associated with p21high cell clearance in aging Jiping Yang, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University Medical Center: Identification and characterization of functional non-coding variants associated with human longevity Hanlin Zhang, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of California Berkeley: Remodeling of the extracellular matrix promotes longevity via mitochondrial signaling Sen Zhang, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois at Chicago: Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging by the Bone Marrow Niche “The fellowships provide significant research and training support to permit postdoctoral fellows to develop skills and competencies needed to become established in the field of aging,” notes Stephanie Lederman, EdM, Executive Director of AFAR. “With this recognition, and the ability to develop an independent research project, they are more competitive when vying for coveted junior faculty positions and when applying for larger grant support.” “This program is currently the only national privately-funded program available for postdoctoral fellows pursuing cutting edge research relevant to understanding biological mechanisms of human aging,” notes Mark R. Collins, President of the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research. “These grants can help them to acquire the skills and expertise to build a solid foundation on which to launch successful careers and become future leaders and innovators in the field.” Learn more about the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research grant program here. About the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research – Founded by Paul F. Glenn in 1965, the mission of the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research is to extend the healthy years of life through research on mechanisms of biology that govern normal human aging and its related physiological decline, with the objective of translating research intointerventions that will extend healthspan with lifespan. Learn more at glennfoundation.org. About AFAR – The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a national non-profit organization that supports and advances pioneering biomedical research that is revolutionizing how we live healthier and longer. For more than four decades, AFAR has served as the field’s talent incubator, providing nearly $199 million to some 4,400 investigators at premier research institutions to date—and growing. In 2023, AFAR expects to provide approximately $12,500,000 to more than 60 investigators. A trusted leader and strategist, AFAR also works with public and private funders to steer high quality grant programs and interdisciplinary research networks. AFAR-funded researchers are finding that modifying basic cellular processes can delay—or even prevent—many chronic diseases, often at the same time. They are discovering that it is never too late—or too early—to improve health. The  science funded by AFAR is paving the way for innovative new therapies that promise to improve and extend our quality of life—at any age. Learn more at www.afar.org.