Understanding the biology of longevity and ageing using a nematode model While developmental genetics has been an area of intensive study for many years, investigation of the role of genes in determining longevity and ageing only recently began. An ideal model organism in which to study ageing is the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This species has well-developed genetics, its 97,000,000 base pair genome is fully sequenced, and its life span is a mere 2-3 weeks. Most importantly, numerous mutations have been identified in C. elegans which alter the rate of ageing, with some mutants living more than five times as long as wild-type worms. It is hoped that by understanding ageing in a simple animal like C. elegans we will be able to unravel the mystery of human ageing, which increases risk of a wide range of diseases, from cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, to Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

A major focus of current work in this laboratory is understanding the genes and biochemical processes by which reduced insulin/IGF-1 signalling and dietary restriction increase lifespan. Other interests include sex differences in the biology of ageing, evolutionary conservation of mechanisms of ageing, and bioethical implications of ageing research. Our work is funded by the BBSRC, the European Union and the Wellcome Trust.

Research Team

Daniel Ackerman, Graduate student, email: daniel.ackerman@ucl.ac.uk
Muhammad Alam, Undergraduate researcher
Caroline Araiz, Postdoc, email: c.araiz@ucl.ac.uk
Catherine Au, Research Technician
Luke Bashford, Undergraduate technical assistant
Filipe Cabreiro, Postdoc, email: f.cabreiro@ucl.ac.uk
Cassandra Coburn, Graduate student, email: c.coburn@ucl.ac.uk
David Gems (PI), Reader in the Biology of Ageing, email: david.gems@ucl.ac.uk
Taherah Noori, Undergraduate researcher
Michele Riesen, Postdoc (from Jan 09)
Matt Sanders, Postdoc, email: matthew.sanders@ucl.ac.uk
Jan Stanek, Undergraduate technical assistant
Jennifer Tullet, Postdoc, email: j.tullet@ucl.ac.uk
Sara Valentini, Graduate student, email: ucbtsva@ucl.ac.uk

Recent events

2 October 2009 - Publication in Science of a major study showing retardation of ageing and improved late life health in S6K1 mutant mice, and revealing mechanisms using C. elegans. See Selman et al. "Ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 signalling regulates mammalian lifespan" Science (2009) - for further details, click here