Grant: Summer Program in Aging

I am eager to participate in the Summer Program in Aging (SPA) 2024, reflecting my experience and commitment to aging research, particularly focusing on epigenetic aging and its connection to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in People Living with HIV (PLWH). My research, revealing the additive impact of COPD and HIV on aging, has been groundbreaking, emphasizing the need to understand aging in historically marginalized populations, PLWH. I have contributed to CIHR Project Grants, that focused on the molecular mechanisms of accelerated lung aging in PLWH and COPD. Beyond COPD and HIV, I am exploring environmental factors like drug treatments, fitness, and cannabis smoking on aging. Preliminary findings suggest that inhaled corticosteroids used as a treatment for worsening COPD symptoms may negatively influence lung aging. SPA 2024, centered on Ageism in Health Research, offers a unique opportunity to enhance my interdisciplinary skills, connect with fellow researchers, and gain insights and resources like the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, which I will use in my independent research as part of my 2-5-year plan funded by CIHR REDI transition grant. My long-term goal is to be an independent researcher, focusing on epigenetic and molecular aging regulation's impact on disease development. I aim to address the knowledge gap in aging determinants, develop biomarkers, and influence policies. Attending SPA 2024 is integral to my career path, providing essential training for my transition to an independent investigator, ultimately improving the scope and impact of my research on healthy aging.