Biology of Aging Research Centers and Core Facilities

Director: Randy Strong, Ph.D.

The goals of the San Antonio Nathan Shock Center:

1. To be a leader in research that advances our understanding of the biology of aging
2. To provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ venue to accelerate transformative research in the biology of aging
3. To foster and promote career development of early-stage investigators in aging biology
4. To serve as a resource and partner to investigators from other Shock Centers, institutions, and the public, for dissemination of scientific knowledge and enhancing awareness about aging research

Director: Nicolas Musi, M.D.

As a recipient of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) grant from the National Institute of Aging (NIA), the Barshop Institute is furthering research efforts towards the clinical aspect. The Pepper Center designation enables translation of research into practical applications in the lives of older Americans. The Barshop Institute is one of the few places in the country that can both investigate the aging process and move the findings into the clinic.

Director: Randy Strong, Ph.D.
Co-Director: James Nelson, Ph.D.

The Aging Interventions Testing Program (ITP) at San Antonio is funded by the Biology of Aging Program of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to evaluate treatment strategies likely to prevent or delay adverse age-dependent changes in cells and tissues, and to diminish the burden of disease in old age. Interventions considered for the program include, but are not limited to pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, plant extracts, hormones, chelators, and redox agents.

Director: Nicolas Musi, M.D.

Established in 1987, the San Antonio Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) serves elderly Veterans in central and south Texas. The mission of the San Antonio GRECC is to be a center of excellence for the advancement of research, education, and clinical care in geriatrics and gerontology. Through the commitment, motivation, creativity, and dedication from all the people who are part of the GRECC, and affiliated institutions and centers, we strive to improve the life of older Veterans that served our Country.

Director: Nicolas Musi, M.D.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) have created the University of Texas Adult Clinical Center (UTACC) for the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) www.motrpac.org.

Director: Suzette Tardif, Ph.D.

The Marmoset Aging Center has established a specific-pathogen free, barrier-maintained colony of marmosets — a unique primate model for the study of aging and age-related disease. The Center is the only facility in the world that maintains marmosets under barrier conditions, to promote excellent health and produce large numbers of aged animals for research.

Director: James Nelson, Ph.D.

The Naked Mole-Rat Center seeks to gain a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that the longest-lived rodent, the naked mole-rat (NMR) uses to thwart the aging process and maintain cancer-free good health well into their third decade of life. In particular, the Center is currently using genomic and metabolomics approaches to address the underlying mechanisms that facilitate the maintenance of protein stability and genomic integrity in rodents of disparate longevity.