We get lots of feedback and questions about the Dog Aging Project (DAP) from viewers, so we wanted to provide an update about how the project is going as well as some context. In this episode, Matt dives into the project's winding 10-year history, which includes navigating the vagaries of government funding, handling skepticism from fellow academics, and managing clinical trial enrollment in the midst of a global pandemic. He provides a candid peek into the logistical coordination, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leadership required to run a large-scale, ambitious scientific project such as the DAP, and the necessity of articulating clear and compelling goals that can rally support from both the scientific community and funding bodies.

The DAP is a study of canine health and longevity aimed at understanding how dogs—and, eventually, humans—age. The project has two broad goals: to help us understand the biology of aging, and to enable us to do something about it. A third goal that often goes unmentioned, but is (to some) no less important, is to give us more time with furry friends who often become part of the family. The DAP has grown to become the world's largest study of aging.

Check out the links below for further information and/or reading about some of the things we discussed in this podcast episode. Note that we do not necessarily endorse or agree with the content of these readings, but present them as supplementary material that may deepen your understanding of the topic after you listen to our podcast. This list is in no way exhaustive, but it’s a good start!

An open science study of ageing in companion dogs

The Dog Aging Project team published this paper in the scientific journal Nature to lay out the Dog Aging Project's mission, structural design, and data collection methodology.

How man’s best friend could hold the key to anti-ageing

This article in The Guardian "started the snowball" of media interest in Matt's idea to conduct clinical trials in people's pets. It describes how dogs are a "new set of recruits" for longevity research, and the clinical trial that Matt and Daniel Promislow were putting together to test the effects of rapamycin on dogs.

UW scientists seek to extend dogs’ lives with anti-aging drug

The Seattle Times, Matt's local newspaper, was another outlet that profiled the early days of Matt's idea to conduct a rapamycin clinical trial in dogs. In addition to the researchers' plans for the clinical trial, the article describes some of the molecular mechanisms by which rapamycin functions, current uses of rapamycin, and barriers to funding rapamycin clinical trials.

Dogs Test Drug Aimed at Humans’ Biggest Killer: Age

This article, which made the front page of the New York Times, likely catalyzed significant funding for the Dog Aging Project. The article quotes Matt describing previous rapamycin research in mice, as well as why a clinical trial of rapamycin in humans would be a worthwhile endeavor. It also touches on criticisms of the longevity field from various quarters, including Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates.

Reproductive Capability Is Associated with Lifespan and Cause of Death in Companion Dogs

This is one of many examples of research that has benefited from Dog Aging Project data. The study, whose co-authors include Kate Creevy and Daniel Promislow, both of whom Matt mentions in this episode, examines the impact of reproduction on longevity in dogs—a question that researchers are also actively investigating in humans. According to the paper, sterilizing male and female dogs increases their lifespan by 13.8 and 26.3 percent respectively, but also increases cancer risk.