A main contributor to aging is this decline of stem cell function. Despite the essential role of stem cells, we are only beginning to understand the underlying mechanisms. I discovered a new aspect of stem cell aging: cellular enlargement. With age, stem cells increase in size leading to their functional decline. However, it is unclear how size impacts stem cell function. Supported by preliminary data, I hypothesize that enlargement leads to increased distances within stem cells, thereby impairing cellular functions. Using blood stem cells of mouse models, my team will test this hypothesis by (i) identifying how enlargement of stem cells affects distances and (ii) how this affects cellular aging, tissue function and lifespan. The novel concepts outlined here have exceptional potential for scientific impact as they will transform our current understanding of stem cell aging by revealing how enlargement affects fundamental processes of stem cells.

2024

2028