Research and Funding

Division of Aging Biology

Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence

The Division of Aging Biology (DAB) of the NIA funds Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging across the U.S. There are currently 5 funded Centers, in Maine (The Jackson Laboratory), Michigan (University of Michigan), Texas (University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio), Washington (University of Washington) and New York (Albert Einstein College of Medicine).

What do the Nathan Shock Centers do?

The Centers provide leadership in the pursuit of basic research into the biology of aging. They do so through a Research Development Core which administers small start-up funds locally, and organizes national annual meetings to highlight specific areas of research.

In addition, each Nathan Shock Center has several specialized cores that provide services to Shock Center members, as well as for-fee services to the community at large. The cores are different in each Center, depending on the strengths of each Institution. Information about each Nathan Shock Center and their cores can be found by clicking on the links below.

The Jackson Laboratory Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging

The Jackson Laboratory
Gary A. Churchill, Ph.D., Director
600 Main St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Gary.Churchill@jax.org
Web: http://agingmice.jax.org
Email: Imogen.Hurley@jax.org

Core
 Contact Services Provided
Cheryl Ackert-Bicknell Facilitates the care of mouse models for research on biological aging
Elissa Chesler Performs an unprecedented, comprehensive survey of lifespan and healthspan in the mouse
Ron Korstanje Evaluates, integrates and disseminates data relating to the genetics of aging from mouse, human and other organisms
Gary Churchill Enables the tracking, statistical analysis and dissemination of aging data
Gary Churchill Provides support for investigators who wish to change career direction towards aging research
Gary Churchill Provides the management of the overall Center, as well as support for the External and Internal Advisory Boards

 

University of Michigan Nathan Shock Center

University of Michigan
Richard A. Miller, M.D., Ph.D., Director
Biomedical Science Research Bldg
109 Zina Pitcher Place, Room 3001
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
millerr@umich.edu
Web: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/nsc
Email: jheibel@umich.edu

Core
Contact
 Services Provided
  • Coordinates activities and communication via Newsletters, email, etc.
  • Internal and external advisory committees
  • Pilot grant review and awards
  • Research retreats
  • Subsidies for per diem costs to generate aging mice
  • Subsidies for creation of new transgenic/KO models
  • Veterinary pathology support
  • Comprehensive evaluation of metabolic and physiological traits
  • Generation of new stocks of mutant/transgenic flies
  • Training and technical assistance for gerontologist new to fly research
  • Subsidies for studies of cell biology of aging that exploit UM Biological Cores
  • Creation of system for archiving fibroblasts from multiple species of rodents, bats, primates, and birds.
  • Development of collaborative projects using comparative methods to test hypotheses about inter-species differences in aging rate.

 

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Nathan Shock Center

University of Texas Health Science Center
Arlan Richardson, Ph.D., Director
The Barshop Institute
UTHSCSA - Texas Research Park Campus
15355 Lambda Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78245-3207
Richardsona@uthscsa.edu
Web: http://barshopinstitute.uthscsa.edu/main/science/u20
Email: markum@uthscsa.edu

Core
Contact
 Services Provided
  • Seminars, meetings and conferences
  • Weekly Aging Research Seminars, Journal Club and an annual Conference on Aging
  • Breed and maintain rodent colonies
  • Lifespan studies in rodents
  • Provide animal models for baseline pilot studies
  • Provide diets containing rapamycin and other drugs
  • Educate staff in animal husbandry and experimental design
  • Assessments of endocrine / metabolic function and body composition / structure
  • Measurement of cardiac parameters in mice
  • Tests of locomotor behavior and cognitive health
  • End of life and cross-sectional pathology in rodents and other species maintained by the Aging Animal and Longevity Assessment Core
  • Quantitative morphometric analyses by 3D and 2D imaging
  • Develop a database and tissue archive of histopathology
  • Measurements of oxidative damage to lipids (F2 - isoprostanes), DNA (oxo-8dG) and proteins (carbonylation, disulfide formation, and hydrophobicity)
  • Assays of mitochondrial function
  • Procure, cryopreserve and provide to investigators tissues, cells and other samples
  • Maintain colonies and tissues of selected species of biogerontological interest

 

University of Washington Nathan Shock Center

University of Washington
Peter S. Rabinovitch, M.D., Ph.D., Director
1959 NE Pacific St., K-081 HSB
Seattle, WA 98195-7705
petersr@u.washington.edu
Web: www.uwaging.org/shock-center
Email: kathyfaw@u.washington.edu

Core
Contact
 Services Provided
  • Generation of conventional and allele replacement transgenic mouse models for studies of the biology of aging
  • Assistance with study design and aging rodent colonies for studies of aging
  • A comprehensive panel of physiologic and functional tests for the assessment of mouse "healthspan"
  • An array of cellular assays for assessment of aging phenotypes, including flow cytometry and cell sorting, image cytometry and telomere analyses
  • Proteomics, including measurements of proteome abundance and turnover
  • Transcriptomics, including transcriptional arrays and Translational State Array Analysis (TSAA)
  • Informatics
  • Support for pilot projects and junior faculty development in the biology of aging
  • Support for seminars, courses, symposia and workshops
    • Next workshop: "Proteomics and Aging", Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, 2011, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • Statistical consulting for experimental design and analysis
  • Aging genes/Interventions Database and Shared Resources Database
  • Community outreach and collaboration with other Nathan Shock Centers Administrative support

 

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Institute for Aging Research/Nathan Shock Center

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Nir Barzilai, M.D., Director
Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus
1300 Morris Park Avenue
Belfer Building, Room 701
Bronx, NY 10461
nir.barzilai@einstein.yu.edu
Web: http://www.einstein.yu.edu/aging/default.aspx?id=27339
Email: katherin.paulus@einstein.yu.edu

Core
Contact
 Services Provided
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