Housed within the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, CHARM supports interdisciplinary basic science research on the molecular mechanisms driving normal aging processes and how cellular signaling pathways change across the lifespan. The Center has a strong sub focus on women’s health and biological mechanisms that are unique to females.
Scientific areas of emphasis include genetics/epigenetics of aging, cellular repair pathways, cellular regeneration, telomere biology, oxidative stress/metabolism, and immunity.
PROJECT 1 - PI : Ivana Kuo
Dysregulation of the endoplasmic reticulum in aging
This project will determine if CLIMP 63 and PC2 interaction is required to maintain ER morphology and the role of ER morphology is stress sensing.
PROJECT 2 - PI : Pete Kekenes-Huskey
Investigation into ER/phagosome coupling in microglia: changes across the lifespan
To determine if impairment of ER/phagosome coupling in microglia results in disrupted calcium signaling and failure to phagocytose amyloid beta.
PROJECT 3 - PI : Keith Jones
Nociceptor-induced multi-organ protection in aged mouse models.
This project will determine the extent to which nociceptor-induced protection against cardiac ischemia is effective in the aged heart.
PROJECT 4 - PI : Eileen Foecking and Meharvan Singh
Exosomal cytosolic DNA release of senescent associated markers from aged astrocytes mediates neuronal senescence and cell death.
This project will compare astrocytic exosome release from young and aged rats, and assess if exosomal contents perpetuate cell death.
PROJECT 5 - PI : Erika Piedras-Renteria
Characterization of calcium channel expression and function in arachnoid meninges in aging.
This project will assess whether aging alters the expression of calcium channels in arachnoid cells thereby contributing to key hallmarks of aging in the brain.
PROJECT 6 - PI : Dorothy Sojka
Tissue-Resident Natural Killer Cells in Pregnancy: changes due to major female lifespan events.
To determine the factors regulating NK cell lineage commitment and specialization during pregnancy in order to better understand female reproductive pathologies.
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