Interventions Testing Program (ITP): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:49, 18 November 2023

The Interventions Testing Program (ITP) is a research initiative focused on identifying treatments that may extend healthy lifespan and delay late-life pathologies in mammals, particularly mice. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the ITP operates through cooperative agreement grants to various research institutions.

Program Overview

The ITP, which began in 2002 with the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) added in 2019, tests potential agents for their effects on aging. This is done via lifespan extension and/or delayed onset/severity of late-life pathologies. The program involves the Jackson Laboratory, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for testing, and a DCC at the Jackson Laboratory. The ITP has identified nine agents that significantly increase median lifespan, including acarbose, aspirin, canagliflozin, captopril, glycine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), Protandim®, rapamycin, and 17α-estradiol.

Program Administration

The ITP studies are conducted under the leadership of Drs. David Harrison and Nadia Rosenthal at the Jackson Lab, Richard A. Miller at the University of Michigan, and Randy Strong at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Molly Bogue at the Jackson Lab is the principal investigator of the DCC. Drs. Tiziana Cogliati and Jennifer Fox from the NIA serve as the program and scientific officers, respectively.

Program Workflow

Application Review

The ITP annually invites proposals from the research community. These proposals undergo a two-tiered review process by the Access Panel and the Steering Committee, assessing scientific merit and feasibility.

Agent Testing

Up to six agents are accepted each year, tested simultaneously under standard operating procedures at the three participating sites. Tests are conducted on genetically heterogeneous UM-HET3 mice, including initial pilot testing, followed by Stage I and Stage II testing, focusing on lifespan, health, pathology, and biochemical mechanisms.

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-The Interventions Testing Program (ITP) is a research initiative aimed at identifying treatments with the potential to extend healthy life in mammals, particularly in mice. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the program tests various compounds for their effects on lifespan and healthspan.
+The Interventions Testing Program (ITP) is a research initiative focused on identifying treatments that may extend healthy lifespan and delay late-life pathologies in mammals, particularly mice. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the ITP operates through cooperative agreement grants to various research institutions.
-== Background ==
+== Program Overview ==
-The ITP was established to address the growing interest in interventions that could delay aging and improve health in later life. It was recognized that rigorous, multi-site testing was necessary to validate potential anti-aging compounds.
+The ITP, which began in 2002 with the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) added in 2019, tests potential agents for their effects on aging. This is done via lifespan extension and/or delayed onset/severity of late-life pathologies. The program involves the Jackson Laboratory, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for testing, and a DCC at the Jackson Laboratory. The ITP has identified nine agents that significantly increase median lifespan, including acarbose, aspirin, canagliflozin, captopril, glycine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), Protandim®, rapamycin, and 17α-estradiol.
-== Purpose ==
+== Program Administration ==
-The primary purpose of the ITP is to identify compounds that significantly affect aging and longevity in mice. These findings could have implications for human health and aging.
+The ITP studies are conducted under the leadership of Drs. David Harrison and Nadia Rosenthal at the Jackson Lab, Richard A. Miller at the University of Michigan, and Randy Strong at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Molly Bogue at the Jackson Lab is the principal investigator of the DCC. Drs. Tiziana Cogliati and Jennifer Fox from the NIA serve as the program and scientific officers, respectively.
-== Methodology ==
+== Program Workflow ==
-=== Compound Selection ===
+=== Application Review ===
-Compounds are selected for testing based on various criteria, including prior evidence of lifespan extension in model organisms and potential applicability to human health.
+The ITP annually invites proposals from the research community. These proposals undergo a two-tiered review process by the Access Panel and the Steering Committee, assessing scientific merit and feasibility.
-=== Experimental Design ===
+=== Agent Testing ===
-The ITP conducts experiments across multiple research centers. Mice are treated with selected compounds and monitored for changes in lifespan, health markers, and age-related diseases.
+Up to six agents are accepted each year, tested simultaneously under standard operating procedures at the three participating sites. Tests are conducted on genetically heterogeneous UM-HET3 mice, including initial pilot testing, followed by Stage I and Stage II testing, focusing on lifespan, health, pathology, and biochemical mechanisms.
-== Findings ==
-Over the years, the ITP has tested numerous compounds. Some, like rapamycin, have shown significant effects on lifespan and healthspan in mice.
-== Implications ==
-The findings from the ITP contribute to the understanding of aging and may guide future research in gerontology and the development of therapies to extend healthy life in humans.
 == See Also ==