Aging is a fundamental biological process and age-related diseases are the leading causes of death in modern societies. The Brown University Training Program in the Molecular Biology of Aging (MBoA) aims to train a next generation of scientists to attack the immensely challenging yet important task of understanding and eventually manipulating human aging. In its first 9 years the MBoA had 4 predoctoral slots per year and has operated under the auspices of two existing and well-established graduate programs, the Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program (MCBGP), and the Pathobiology Graduate Program (PBGP). The MBoA has generated much interest and has attracted very talented students. Nineteen trainees have tracked through the MBoA since 2012 with only one attrition (5%). This cohort includes 4 URM students (21%), with 100% retention. Eight students have graduated with an average of 4 papers each, and all remain engaged in research or science- related careers. The MBoA has grown from 13 faculty trainers in 2012, drawn from 6 departments, to 19 current trainers in 8 departments. This escalating interest in the biology of aging is fueled by an increasing realization that many degenerative disorders are profoundly influenced by basic aging processes, and conversely, that many core molecular mechanisms, such as regulation of chromatin, influence aging. Our understanding of aging has reached a watershed in the past 10-15 years that was enabled by the increasing use of invertebrate model organisms; Brown has a strong base of investigators applying these systems to study a diverse array of biological questions. Brown has increased its presence in neuroscience with the 2018 naming of the Carney Institute in Brain Science, generating new hires and heightened interest in aging biology among its faculty. Building on this momentum we propose to increase the number of MBoA trainers to 26 and affiliate the MBoA with 3 additional graduate programs (in neuroscience, molecular pharmacology, and biomedical engineering). We request the continuation of our 4 predoctoral slots and the addition of 2 postdoctoral slots. The MBoA has supported its predoctoral trainees for a period of 2 years, typically in years 2-3, which we propose to continue. We propose to support postdoctoral trainees for 2 years during early stages of their careers (NIH levels 0-3). The MBoA is part of the new Brown Center on the Biology of Aging (founded 2018) which supports a broad array of programming, including a seminar series, local workshops, retreats, a graduate course on aging and an annual symposium, providing many learning, mentoring and networking opportunities for our trainees. The MBoA is fully engaged in initiatives across the University to build and sustain an equitable and inclusive training environment in which a diverse group of trainees will successfully gain quantitative, conceptual, technical and professional skills that will allow them to conduct rigorous and reproducible research. The goal of the MBoA is to provide strong academic, experimental and career mentoring in the current landscape of molecular aging research, and thus equip our trainees with the skills and qualifications to compete in a sustainable and diverse US biomedical workforce.

While the rapid increase of our elderly population has led to a burden of disease and disability that threatens our society, new research is identifying universal mechanisms that determine and even regulate the aging of all organisms and impact all organ systems. Our aim is to train the next generation of scientists to engage in interdisciplinary research aimed at discovering and implementing therapies that alleviate the suffering caused by age-associated degenerative processes. The collaboration of scientists from diverse backgrounds enhances creativity and innovation by bringing together a wide range of perspectives, and our goal is to provide rigorous training to our students and postdocs to become leaders in the broad area of aging biology, and to increase the diversity and quality of the national work force in this area.