LifeGen Technologies, LLC has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research grant from the United States National Institute on Aging. The project is focused on identifying a robust panel of genes in adipose tissue (fat) that are regulated by a calorie restricted diet. According to Dr. Jamie Barger, Director of Operations at LifeGen, the technology developed under the NIH grant will allow LifeGen to screen for compounds that have beneficial effects on adipose tissue in a manner similar to that of a calorie restricted diet.
Caloric restriction is the only dietary intervention proven to increase both maximum and average lifespan in mammals, as well delaying age-related diseases. Because caloric restriction reduces body fat and markers of inflammation related to disease, it is thought that metabolic alterations in fat may underlie many of the health benefits associated with this dietary intervention. "Several decades of research support the concept of caloric restriction as an effective intervention in aging retardation. This research grant clearly validates the enormous potential of LifeGen's technology in discovering the next generation of anti-aging compounds, based on caloric restriction science," said LifeGen cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Tomas A. Prolla.
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