Student Research Projects

One of SRF Education’s most important activities is to help university students complete research projects related to rejuvenation biotechnologies. We offer assistance on projects in the hard sciences, psychology, philosophy, political science, and related fields.

To complete a research project with us, you will first need to join SRF Education.

How We Help

We can help students find a research project, provide them with mentoring to guide them through the project, and (in some cases) provide a monetary grant to cover the cost of laboratory materials.

Selecting a Project

Students who have joined the Initiative can pick up one of our listed “available projects,” or create their own. Such a project could either be a literature review or laboratory-based work under a professor at the student’s university. When a student is working on an SRF Education project that involves laboratory work, that student may apply to us for a grant to cover the cost of materials.

Projects List

Ongoing

Extratelomeric functions of telomerase

Re-activation of telomerase is essential for the development and proliferation of cancer cells, since it is normally inactivated in somatic cells. WILT (Whole-body Interdiction of Lengthening of Telomeres) is a theoretical cancer therapy involving removing the telomerase gene from somatic cells, to stop cancer cells from re-activating it. However, this may have undesirable side-effects, as telomerase may have other effects besides those on telomeres. This project involves looking for presently unknown extratelomeric effects of telomerase, as well as reviewing known ones.

Laboratory Automation

Primary goal: repair a pipetting robot recently installed at the RC.

Lipofuscin's contribution to the aging process

Lipofuscin, better known as age-pigment, is a brown-yellow, autofluorescent, proteolysis-resistant waste product that accumulates with age in postmitotic cells. Lipofuscin impairs lysosomal and proteasomal function possibly leading to a vicious cycle of more damage accumulation. The goal of this review is to explore the chemistry, accumulation, mechanisms of toxicity and interventions that change accumulation of lipofuscin.

MiRNA and Ageing

MicroRNA is another form of cell regulation and has recently been reported to be regulating aging specific signaling in cells. Specific types of microRNA have been found to be linked to aging, senescence and p53 expression. The role of microRNA in cell proliferation and aging is not well understood but help to understand age-related changes in gene expression. The review should discuss the microRNAs found to be specifically up/down regulated in aged or senescent cells and discuss the function and interaction partners of these microRNA.

Objectivity, empiricism and morality

The allocation of resources in the field of biomedical engineering is largely determined by the consensus ethical paradigms of the time, which have been to date largely subjective and unscientific, reflecting many of the illogical cognitive biases common to human reasoning. This research proposes a solution in the form of an objective, scientifically based system of ethical valuation, placing consciousness and complexity as the fundamental units of value. The implications of this ethic, if adopted, would be a more rational and scientifically grounded basis for action selection, evaluation, and resource allocation to that which aids the survival of consciousnesses, such as biomedical engineering.

Effect of systemic adult stem cell injection on brain aging

Adult stem cells when transplanted into the brain help to increase neurogenesis and seem to help repair damaged areas. Recent publication using human cord blood derived stem cells showed improvement in stroke but more importantly in normal aged rats (Bachstetter et al., 2008; Liao et al., 2009) Adult stem cells can secrete growth factors and cytokines, providing a regenerative environment for repair. Studies suggest that MSC transplantation into the human brain might be an effective tool at combating degenerative diseases. Promising results in animals have already been reported for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer and other medical conditions commonly associated with older age.

A web portal of age-related changes

The Interactive Genomics of Ageing Group is developing a web portal that will integrate molecular, cellular and physiological age-related data. This project can consist of either contributing to the development of the informatics structure (e.g., web interface) of this new web portal or by compiling age-related data from various sources for inclusion into the database.

Long-lived species overview

Long-lived animals achieve a high age due to certain adaptations solving some of the most pressing causes of aging, such as oxidative damage. This project consists of a comprehensive literature review on these organisms and the biochemical mechanisms that might lend them their abnormally long lifespans.

Inducible pluripotent stem cells overview

Recent studies indicate that stem cells could soon be used as treatment or even replacement of damaged organs, and thus help extend human life on a broader band. Pluripotent stem cells appear to hold most potential in this regard. This project includes various literature reviews exploring the applications and limitations concerning inducible pluripotent stem cell use, and how they compare to embryonic stem cells.

The Effects of PQQ on Aging and Age-Related Gene Expression Profiles in C. elegans

In our study we intend to determine the effects of the compound PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) on the maximum lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. We plan to use data acquired from studies of lifespan (experiment 1) to determine whether PQQ has a significant effect on worm lifespan and, if so, at what concentrations in worm media its effect is most significant. We can then use these results in follow-up experiments: one, to determine if late-age addition of PQQ causes rejuvenation in the worms, and two, to examine RNA expression profiles between worms exposed to PQQ at the optimal concentration and control worms at late life.

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Student Research Projects

Projects List

Ongoing

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