Initial Aims of the Consortium
We postulate that the genetically controlled pathways that affect longevity involve fundamental cellular processes that are highly conserved across species. Two conclusions follow from this premise. First, investigations using different scientific methods in diverse species will converge in identifying similar 'longevity pathways.' Second, the discovery of these pathways can be accelerated by fostering communication among scientists who are currently taking different approaches to longevity research. We have now brought together investigators in a Consortium that will change the field of longevity research by transferring ideas and concepts across disciplines and by developing tools to enable investigators to generate and test new and more productive hypotheses. Our program has the following aims.
- Organize a Consortium of studies and investigators to facilitate the discovery, confirmation, and understanding of genetic determinants of longevity. The Consortium will involve laboratories and studies of special populations (centenarians and Iceland) devoted to the discovery of longevity-related genes in human and non-human species; laboratories that are engaged in the discovery of genes associated with longevity; and established longitudinal studies of large cohorts of older people that have DNA and excellent phenotyping that could be used to confirm and perhaps explain the effects of candidate genes.
- Identify candidate genes in human and non-human studies, and create a searchable database.
- Provide rapid funding for pilot studies that are likely lead to collaborative Consortium studies.
- Identify extended pedigrees of long-lived Icelanders and use a genome-wide scan to identify linkages between chromosomal regions and longevity.
- Define potential phenotypes for longevity and methodology for the analysis of candidate genes and their associations with these phenotypes.
- Develop a searchable database of the resources relevant for studies of the genetic determinants of longevity, including measurements made by the participating studies, papers, abstracts, and unpublished material.
- Develop guidelines for working together as a Consortium.
- Develop specific proposals for collaborative studies of the genetic determinants of longevity and frailty.