Basic Biology of Aging Program
Basic Biology of Aging expands the scientific pursuits of the CFA into basic biological
mechanisms of aging. The program fosters interaction between aging researchers and
those who study specific age-related problems such as cancer, neurodegenerative
disorders, osteoporosis, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular and peripheral vascular
diseases, free radical biology, and genetics and DNA damage. The BBA develops joint
recruitment plans between the Center for Aging and other centers or units such as
the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Center for
Metabolic Bone Disease, and the Clinical Nutrition Research Center to enhance UAB’s
scientific impact in aging research.
Specific areas of excellence with the BBA program include immune and T cell senescence
studies in mice and humans, a Core Muscle Research Laboratory, directed by Dr. Marcas
Bamman focused on studies of age-related muscle atrophy (sarcopenia), and a Cell
Senescence Culture Facility, directed by Dr. Trygve Tollefsbol focused epigenetic
changes with age. The BBA program is establishing links with the Tissue Procurement
Facility and the proteomics Core facility at UAB, and is establishing an Aging Tissue
Procurement Core Facility for studies of phenotype and genetic changes associated
with healthy aging.
Opportunity for faculty involvement:
Faculty, postdoctoral and predoctoral students are encouraged to participate in
the BBA Program through collaborations with established investigators in the BBA
Program. The Program is seeking to expand its teaching and research role at UAB.
Program contact person:
, MD, Ph.D.
J. W. Goodwin Professor of Medicine
Dept. of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology
Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomed Research Bldg
Room SHEL 310
1530 3rd Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35294-2182
(tel) (205) 934-8909
(fax) (205) 975-6648
Leaders and Key Staff:
- John D. Mountz, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
- Hui Chen-Hsu, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
- Trygve Tollefsbol, Ph.D.
Director, Cell Senescence Culture Facility
- Marcas Bamman, Ph.D.
Director, Muscle Research Laboratory