NEMAMETRIX, INC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: Aging, the progressive degeneration of body and mind, is a universal problem marked by a d

Description

Aging, the progressive degeneration of body and mind, is a universal problem marked by a decline in tissue organization and function, and an increase in the likelihood of death. Progress in understanding the cellular and molecular basis of aging is rapidlyaccelerating, following the discovery that several well-known model organisms age in many of the same ways as humans. In addition to their contributions to our basic understanding of the biology of aging, these organisms are now being used to screen for compounds that extend not only lifespan, but also the quality of life in older individuals (health span). One of the most powerful model systems in aging and health span research is the microscopic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, favored for its short lifespan (2-3 weeks), genetic tractability, and low cost. C. elegans research is currently undergoing rapid innovation as its small size is particularly compatible with microfluidics - the manipulation of fluids in channels with dimensions of tens of micromet