The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies

09/22/2025

📢 You’re invited to the Barshop Institute 2025 Fall Seminar Series!

Join us on Wednesday, September 24, from 4:00–5:00 pm CT for a seminar with Da-Zhi Wang, PhD, Professor in the Department of Medicine and Director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the University of South Florida.

🧬 Talk: “Molecular Mechanisms of Heart Development, Function and Regeneration”

📍 In person: Barshop Institute, Conference Room 2.2005
💻 Virtual: Zoom

👉 https://bit.ly/4jjeaJw

☕🍪 Light refreshments provided.
Hosted by Mengwei Zang, MD, PhD.

09/19/2025

🌟Speaker Spotlight: Dr. Elena Volpi🌟

Join us on Monday, Sept. 22 for TPR’s Think Science at UT San Antonio Health Science Center to hear from world-renowned brain health experts, including Dr. Elena Volpi, a pioneer in healthy aging and aging research.

Be inspired by her groundbreaking work and discover how new advances in aging research and brain health are shaping our future. Plus, take part in a live Q&A.

Seats are limited—register now to secure your spot: https://tinyurl.com/yrmyscca

The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies

09/15/2025

🎉 Exciting news from UT Health San Antonio!

The San Antonio Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center has secured a $6.5 million grant from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging to continue advancing its mission for the next five years.

This funding will allow the Pepper Center to expand from six to seven research cores, including the addition of a brand-new Molecular Phenotyping Core. The Center’s work focuses on translating cutting-edge aging science into real-world interventions that help older adults—especially in South Texas—maintain their health and independence.

With leadership from Dr. Elena Volpi, Dr. Randy Strong, and Dr. Rebeca Wong, and a strong track record of training the next generation of scientists, the Pepper Center continues to be a national leader in geroscience and geriatrics.

  The population of older Americans is expanding rapidly and is expected to double by 2060. While people are living longer than ever, many are also living with chronic health problems that impact their quality of life and ability to live independently. Since 2015, scientists at the San Antonio Clau...

09/12/2025

📢 You’re invited to the Barshop Institute 2025 Fall Seminar Series!

Join us on Wednesday, September 17, from 4:00–5:00 pm CT for a seminar with Agustin Ruiz, MD, PhD, Professor at the Glenn Biggs Institute, Director of the Biological Core Laboratory, and Keith M. and Pat V. Orme Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio.

🧬 Talk: “Proteogenomic Analysis of Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Across the Alzheimer’s Disease Continuum”

📍 In person: Barshop Institute Conference Room 2.2005
💻 Virtual: Zoom ID: 160 951 7479 | Passcode: Semi-4939!

☕🍪 Light refreshments provided.

Hosted by James F. Nelson, PhD.

09/08/2025

📢 You’re invited to the Barshop Institute 2025 Fall Seminar Series!

Join us on Wednesday, September 10, from 4:00–5:00 pm CT for a seminar with Teresa A. Zimmers, PhD (Oregon Health & Science University).

🧬 Presentation: “Whac-a-mole or Occam’s Razor – Understanding muscle loss in cancer cachexia”

📍 In person: Barshop Institute Conference Room 2.2005
💻 Virtual: Zoom

Light refreshments will be provided. 🍪☕

Hosted by Elena Volpi, MD, PhD, FGSA.




👉 https://bit.ly/4jjeaJw

09/05/2025

🚨📣Registration and abstract submission closes today at 5pm. Don't delay and register now!

2025 Masoro-Barshop Conference on Aging
📅 Oct 9–12 | 📍Mayan Dude Ranch, Bandera, TX

Theme: "Dietary Approaches to Geroscience Intervention"

🔗: http://bit.ly/3UG2bew

09/03/2025

🎉 The inaugural UT-MSTAR (Medical Student Training in Aging Research) program has successfully wrapped up its first summer!

Eighteen first-year medical students from four Texas medical schools, including UT Health San Antonio, gained hands-on experience in aging and geriatric research through mentored projects, clinical shadowing, and national presentations.

Funded by the NIH’s National Institute on Aging and led locally by Dr. Elena Volpi, this program is helping train the next generation of physician-scientists dedicated to advancing aging research and improving care for older adults. 🧬👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

New NIH-funded program aims to grow pipeline of students in aging research across Texas A new multi-site, eight-week research program aims to engage first-year medical students interested in aging medicine. The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at The University of Texas....

09/02/2025

📣🗓️Join us Wednesday, September 3rd @ 4PM CT for our Fall Seminar Series!

Jenny Hsieh, PhD, presents: "Stem cell approaches to understand acquired and genetic epilepsies."

🔗Details: bit.ly/4jjeaJw

08/29/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Juan Pablo Palavicini on receiving a Rising UT STAR Award! 🌟

This $150,000 grant is designed to support research faculty by enhancing access to cutting-edge equipment and facilities. As an assistant professor in the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology and an investigator at the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Dr. Palavicini will be able to further advance his important work in the biology of aging and longevity. 🧬⏳

We’re proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of his excellence and dedication to discovery! 👏





🔗for more:

Dr. Juan Pablo Palavicini has received a Rising UT STAR retention award for $150,000. The STARs (Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention) Program provides funding to help purchase state-of-the-art equipment and make necessary laboratory/facility renovations to support faculty members in per...

08/28/2025

🚨 New research from UT Health San Antonio highlights important differences in how males and females respond to the ketogenic (keto) diet.

Led by Dr. David Gius, the study found that male mice on a long-term keto diet developed harmful effects, including the buildup of aging (senescent) cells and increased oxidative stress. In contrast, female mice were protected from these negative outcomes. Remarkably, giving male mice estrogen or antioxidants prevented the harmful effects, pointing to a possible hormonal explanation.

These findings underscore the importance of considering s*x and hormonal status when evaluating the health impacts of popular diets like keto.

Learn more here:

Estrogen may be protective against adverse effects Contact: Steven Lee, (210) 450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 28, 2025 – Could a keto diet affect males differently from females? A study from The University of Texas Health Science at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) suggests so, a...

08/27/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Nisi Jiang, PhD, on a major achievement!

Dr. Jiang is the first author of the first-ever national review of anti-aging compounds, analyzing 20 years of data from the National Institute on Aging’s Interventions Testing Program.

The landmark study, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Science, identified 13 compounds that extend lifespan and healthspan in preclinical models. Among them, rapamycin stood out as the most effective—boosting survival by up to 28%, even when started in mid- or late-life. 🧬⏳

This work provides a powerful roadmap for future discoveries in longevity science. Please join us in celebrating Dr. Jiang’s incredible contribution to the field of aging research! 👏



https://bit.ly/45Vlntg

08/26/2025

🚨📢Registration and abstract submission closes on Sept 5th. Don't delay and register now!

🔗: https://bit.ly/3UG2bew

📣 Registration is now open!
Join us for the 2025 Masoro-Barshop Conference on Aging, happening October 9–12 at the beautiful Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas.

This year’s theme is: "Dietary Approaches to Geroscience Intervention"

Explore how nutrition can influence aging and age-related diseases alongside top researchers and experts in the field.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and advance aging science in a one-of-a-kind setting.

🔗 Learn more and register here: http://bit.ly/3UG2bew