The Robbins laboratory is focused on developing approaches to extend healthspan by targeting specific hallmarks of aging including genomic instability, cellular senescence, inflammation, stem cell dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction. Specific funded projects include: 1) Development and optimization of senotherapeutics able to eliminate or suppress the senescent cell phenotype; 2) Identifying, characterizing and spatially mapping senescent cells with murine and human aging as part of the SenNet Consortium’s effort to develop a 4D map of senescent cells in 18 tissues with aging using cutting edge single cell and spatial transcriptomics and proteomics technologies; 3) Application of young, functional stem cells and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) as therapeutics as well as identifying the miRNAs with the EVs important for their therapeutic effects; 4) Role and therapeutic targeting of IKK/NF-κB signaling in DNA damage-induced senescence, inflammation and aging; 5) Identification of longevity-associated rare variants in centenarians to guide the development of novel drugs able to extend healthspan and lifespan; and 6) Examining the role of the immune system in driving aging and the development of novel approaches to improve immune function with aging.
