In search of an anti-aging drug: Selective mTORC1 inhibition
Research Project
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01.07.2019
- 31.12.2020
Age is the major risk factor for many chronic disorders such as heart disease, arthritis, cancer and dementia. Given the global aging of the population, developing interventions that preserve health in old age and delay the onset of age-related diseases is of utmost relevance. However, developing new strategies to delay aging is a risky, time consuming, and expensive endeavor. The target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) signaling pathway drives organismal aging and its inhibition is a leading candidate for targeting aging. However, long term clinical use of currently available TORC1 inhibitors is limited due to undesirable off-target effects such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. Thus, the ability to selectively inhibit TORC1 uncovers a high therapeutic potential for age-related diseases. We aim to explore a novel mode of TORC1 inhibition for anti-aging applications. The results could be used to develop a novel class of anti-aging drugs that delay the onset and progression of age-related diseases generating unprecedented health benefits.
Funding
In search of an anti-aging drug: Selective mTORC1 inhibition