Geroscience:
Aging is the greatest risk factor for most chronic illnesses. These include all the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the US, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. They also include debilitating conditions like arthritis and frailty. Beyond the direct effects on the individuals themselves, the broader consequences of aging and age-related illnesses are formidable. The US population is aging steadily, as both the number and percentage of adults who are >65 years-old continues to increase. As a result, the burden of chronic age-associated diseases on the healthcare system, as well as their negative impact on other professional and personal activities, is growing.
The Geroscience field aims to understand the genetic, molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms that make aging such a prominent risk factor and driver of chronic diseases in older individuals. These efforts are guided by the Geroscience Hypothesis, which posits that targeting these mechanisms would delay or prevent the onset of multiple age-related diseases and increase healthspan. Geroscientists therefore operate at the interface of basic biology, health, aging, and disease.
Our Undergraduate Education in Aging and Geroscience Research (EAGR) Program is designed to provide a holistic experience in which students are: (1) instructed in the breadth and depth of Geroscience concepts through coursework based on the primary literature; (2) immersed in hands-on Geroscience research through full- and part-time laboratory experiences; (3) enabled to hone their scientific communication skills and preparedness for advanced graduate/medical/professional training through career development activities; (4) exposed to equitable and inclusive learning environments that will diversify the pipeline of Geroscientists, and (5) empowered to engage their mentors, peers, trainees from other institutes, and the public in discussions about the biology of aging and Geroscience research.
EAGR Program Highlights:
An intensive Geroscience coursework track for undergraduates consists of content, writing, independent study, research, seminar, and ethics classes. This is a comprehensive curriculum driven by critical-thinking and problem-solving, not memorization.
A coordinated 2-week methods workshop entitled ‘Molecules-to-Cells’ and ‘Flies-to-Humans’ to kickoff the Summer research program will strengthen the sense of community among EAGR Scholars and convey the breadth of experimental approaches for studying the biology of aging.
A distinctive 8-week summer program will not only train students in Geroscience research labs but will utilize existing research excellence to build synergy and foster collaborations between the Institute for Systems Genomics (ISG) and Center on Aging (CoA).
An established framework for academic year research will support student trainees in labs at both UConn and UConn Health. Cooperation with the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) will expand existing avenues of funding to further incentivize long-term lab commitments.
An effective multi-tiered mentoring structure will ensure EAGR Scholar success. This comprises a Leadership Team with extensive experience in teaching and training undergraduate students, Faculty Mentors who are experts in the field of aging, in-lab PhD Graduate Student Mentors, Peer Mentors, and EAGR Alumni.
A specific graduate program exposure mechanism takes advantage of a regional Glenn Foundation meeting with Geroscience experts from leading academic/research institutions in the northeastern US. The deliverables (posters, talks, manuscripts) and professional interactions will open gateways for students pursuing graduate careers.
A new public outreach group called the Geroscience Ambassadors is an offshoot of the existing ISG Genome Ambassador Program. This program will raise awareness about the field of Geroscience through communication and engagement activities with the local community of older adults.