The U.S. Department of Health has projected that by 2030, people that are 65 years and older will represent 19% of the population. Healthcare providers and scientists have begun to recognize the immense challenges that an aging population creates, especially those concerning quality of life. Dr. Gerald Shadel, of Yale School of Medicine, directs his research towards understanding how mitochondria are involved in human disease and aging. As major sites of energy metabolism, mitochondria are commonly known as the "powerhouses of the cell." However, mitochondria are complex and dynamic cellular structures that do much more than just make energy for cells. For example, they can also determine if a cell lives or dies, help mount responses to stress, and help combat infections by triggering anti-viral and anti-bacterial responses. In addition, they house the essential mitochondrial genome (or mtDNA) that is inherited from your mother and can cause inherited diseases. Finally, they are major players in the aging process and common diseases such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes and cancer, and can have either beneficial or deleterious effects on health and longevity. By understanding how mitochondria work, Dr. Shadel hopes to protect or improve their function to combat many diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and perhaps intervene in the aging process to allow humans to live healthier lives.

Dr. Shadel's research presents an entirely new approach to mitochondria's impact upon aging and disease. Therefore, he hopes to augment mitochondria in a way that researchers will improve the healthspan for individuals of all ages. Dr. Shadel's research has expansive ramifications for our society and economy as our population grows older and age-related diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and diabetes increase in prevalence and become an increasing burden on our healthcare system. In short, the role of mitochondria in human disease and aging is grossly underestimated and understudied, however it holds the promise for many disease treatments and living healthier lives as we age!

Current research includes:

• Lengthening Healthspan: Dr. Shadel's research has found that when mitochondria are stressed, lifespan can be lengthened. His research is therefore directed toward investigating ways to improve quality of life and health as our population ages. This includes efforts to understand the mechanism of expression of genes encoded by mtDNA, elucidating signaling pathways that control mitochondrial function and respond to cellular stress, and generating/exploiting yeast, cell culture and animal models of how mitochondria are involved in aging and disease pathology.

• Immune System: Mitochondria derive from bacteria and therefore can have immune stimulatory effects. For this reason, mitochondria have been shown to cause inflammation, which is a big contributor to many diseases including aging diseases. Dr. Shadel has shown that mitochondrial stress activates the immune system in order to defend against pathogens, but that this may also promote disease processes.

• Disease and Aging Process: Dr. Shadel's research hopes to find potential treatments for age-related hearing loss, cancer, ataxia-telangiectasia, and mitochondrial diseases. His previous research has had great success in understanding the ways in which treatments and preventative measures can be crafted for various diseases.