NEW YORK — The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2021 Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty: Junyue Cao, PhD, Assistant Professor, The Rockefeller University.
Given the biological complexity and heterogeneity of the aging process, the emerging field of GerOmics research can play an important role in providing important insights into the aging process and many age-related diseases.
Established in 2020, the Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty a one- to two-year award to junior faculty (MDs andPhDs) to conduct aging-related -Omics research.
Dr. Cao’s project “Single-cell transcriptome and epigenome profiling of aging on a whole organismal scale” will apply high-throughput single-cell genomic techniques to comprehensively profile the transcript isoform expression and chromatin dynamics across millions of cells during the aging process. He will pursue an in-depth characterization of molecular program dynamics for a variety of tissues — in the brain, kidneys, and lungs, for example — and will look for each of them and how they change over time, across the lifespan.
"A global view of single-cell molecular dynamics in aging tissues could broadly inform our understanding of how cell population homeostasis is maintained and disturbed across the lifespan, as well as the design of effective strategies for aging-related therapies," notes Dr. Cao.
“The Sagol Network is honored to collaborate with AFAR in various aspects, and specifically through this award,” says Sami Sagol, Founder, Sagol Network and AFAR board member. “Omics research has tremendous potential to impact healthy lifespan and build on the foundation of knowledge in the basic biology of aging and geroscience that AFAR has advanced for decades."
“GerOmics research is essential to help unfold the complexity of biology of aging,” says Stephanie Lederman, Executive Director, AFAR. “By particularly supporting Junior Faculty, this Award encourages early career investigators to focus their research on this vital emerging field. This will bolster the field's expertise in applying -Omics research to extend healthspan."
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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 four decades, AFAR has served as the field’s talent incubator, providing more than $189 million to nearly 4,300 investigators at premier research institutions nationwide. 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 chronicdiseases, often at the same time. They are discovering that it is never too late—or too early—to improve health. This groundbreaking science is paving the way for innovative new therapies that promise to improve and extend our quality of life—at any age. Learn moreat www.afar.org or follow AFARorg on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Sagol Network
The Sagol Network was set up by the Sagol Family with a vision to support and accelerate advanced research, education and therapy in the fields of Neuroscience & Healthy lifespan. Under the leadership of Sami Sagol, the family set up a virtual network ofschools & research centers based in leading academic and medical institutions promoting multidisciplinary projects, laboratories, and technologies. Among these, The Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University, Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center at Sheba Medical Centre, Sagol Institute for Longevity Research, Weizmann Institute, The Sagol Center for Neurobiology & Ethology and Emily Sagol Center for Creative Art Therapy at Haifa University, Sagol Healthy Human Longevity Center at Bar-Ilan University, Sagol center for Brain & Mind at the IDC , The Sagol Brain center at Sourasky (Tel Aviv) medical center, The Sagol program for computational healthcare at Hebrew University, Kahn-Sagol-Maccabi Health Data Science Institute and The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine & Research at Shamir Medical Center. The Sagol Network’s philanthropic efforts have also extended to 'bridge' & promote collaborations between Ivy league institutions throughout the world, with initiatives such as Sagol MIT-Weizmann Bridge program, Sagol-Kandel Brain Longevity Initiative at Columbia University, and The Sagol Center for Epigenetics of Metabolism and Aging between Monash University, in Sydney and Tel Aviv Medical Center. The Sagol Network GerOmic Awards for Junior Faculty with American Federation for Aging Research exemplify the Sagol Network’s global approach.