Joel Rothman

Research Overview

Aging and longevity in all creatures are under the control of genes which, when modified by evolution or through genetic changes, can dramatically alter the rate of age-related decline and lifespan. The inexorable deterioration in biological function as we age results from an onslaught of chemical, physical, and radiation stress throughout our lifetimes. The Rothman lab uses two diminutive, experimentally accessible, model animals to uncover the genetic basis of the aging program and illuminate how some organisms are capable of extraordinary resilience to extreme stresses. The ability to dramatically slow aging and extend lifespan in an animal through genetic modification was first made with the celebrated animal, C. elegans, which is now among the premier systems for research on aging and longevity. This lab applies advanced genetic and genomics tools available with the C. elegans system to explore the control points that alter lifespan and healthspan and to unveil how the aging program influences accumulation and inheritance of the specialized genome of mitochondria, the powerhouses of animal cells. Environmental and physical stresses contribute to the aging process and lead to many neurodegenerative disorders. The lab is exploring the mechanisms that protect nervous system integrity and cellular function from extreme stresses, including intense physical force and near-total desiccation in one the most stress-resilient animals on Earth, known as tardigrades or “water bears”. Together these studies aim to identify new strategies for enhancing resilience to stress, extending human healthspan and lifespan, and ameliorating neurodegenerative and mitochondrial diseases.