By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Deborah Balthazar
Published on 2024-01-24 09:30:51
The future of The Dog Aging Project, a crucial and extensive study that has been tracking the aging process of nearly 50,000 companion dogs across the United States, is under threat after the National Institute on Aging decided not to renew their grant funding. This decision puts the project at a crossroads as it could lose up to 90% of its budget once the funding runs out in June. Despite this setback, the co-founders of the project are determined to continue their work and have set a long-term goal of raising $40-50 million to fund ongoing research related to aging in dogs and humans.
The immense value of the project is evident in its contribution to scientific literature, including a groundbreaking clinical trial of the drug rapamycin, which aims to assess its effects on aging biology and lifespan in dogs. However, the loss of funding puts the completion and success of the trial in jeopardy. To address this critical situation, the project’s co-founders have launched a nonprofit called the Dog Aging Institute, which, pending 501(c)(3) status from the IRS, aims to attract philanthropic contributions for their work. Despite receiving support in the form of small donations, they have yet to secure larger donors.
The declining funding has raised concerns about the future of the project; however, the co-founders express optimism and enthusiasm, emphasizing that the challenges they face present an opportunity for valuable and impactful work. They believe in the potential of the Dog Aging Institute to fund risky, long-term, and exciting scientific research, which can be challenging with federal funding. Despite the uncertainties, they focus on the bright prospects for moving ahead quickly and achieving substantial progress with the institute.
With their resubmitted grant and the sought-after support of philanthropic donors, the Dog Aging Project seeks to turn this challenging time into an opportunity for advancing innovative and substantial research. The co-founders are dedicated to continuing their work in understanding the aging process in dogs and humans, and they remain hopeful that the support they need will be secured.
Read the original article on Africa Health News
