Biomedical Researchers Step Up Efforts To Probe Mysteries of Aging

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It was established in 1974 when Congress passed the Research on Aging Act, charging the institute to conduct and support biomedical, social, and behavioral research as well as training and education on the process of aging and the diseases and special needs of older individuals. "Our research is very far-ranging, from basic research into cell regul

| 7 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
7:00
Share

"Our research is very far-ranging, from basic research into cell regulation and cell death, to aging and cancer, to the social and behavioral aspects of aging," says Miriam Kelty, associate director of NIA and director of the office of extramural affairs.

Some current NIA statistics:

--K.Y.K.

As the baby boomer generation gets older, increased attention is being focused upon geriatrics (the study of illness in older people) and gerontology (the basic science of aging processes). For scientists in these fields, the demographic sea change has conceptually affirmed the need for a more aggressive approach to aging research and, consequently, has fueled growth in funding for it in recent years (see story on page 1).

Immunologist Richard Hodes is addressing the challenges of this broad field of scientific study in two venues: the director's office of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), where he's responsible for administering the efforts of about ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

  • Karen Kreeger

    This person does not yet have a bio.

Published In

Share
Image of a woman in a microbiology lab whose hair is caught on fire from a Bunsen burner.
April 1, 2025, Issue 1

Bunsen Burners and Bad Hair Days

Lab safety rules dictate that one must tie back long hair. Rosemarie Hansen learned the hard way when an open flame turned her locks into a lesson.

View this Issue
Conceptual image of biochemical laboratory sample preparation showing glassware and chemical formulas in the foreground and a scientist holding a pipette in the background.

Taking the Guesswork Out of Quality Control Standards

sartorius logo
An illustration of PFAS bubbles in front of a blue sky with clouds.

PFAS: The Forever Chemicals

sartorius logo
Unlocking the Unattainable in Gene Construction

Unlocking the Unattainable in Gene Construction

dna-script-primarylogo-digital
Concept illustration of acoustic waves and ripples.

Comparing Analytical Solutions for High-Throughput Drug Discovery

sciex

Products

Atelerix

Atelerix signs exclusive agreement with MineBio to establish distribution channel for non-cryogenic cell preservation solutions in China

Green Cooling

Thermo Scientific™ Centrifuges with GreenCool Technology

Thermo Fisher Logo
Singleron Avatar

Singleron Biotechnologies and Hamilton Bonaduz AG Announce the Launch of Tensor to Advance Single Cell Sequencing Automation

Zymo Research Logo

Zymo Research Launches Research Grant to Empower Mapping the RNome