• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Biochemist Dr. Craig Cooney Signs Up for the Mprize(R)

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 September 2006, 09:01 CDT

Renowned epigenetics expert Dr. Craig A. Cooney of The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences announced today that he is entering the competition to win the Methuselah Mouse Prize (Mprize). The Mprize, a scientific research prize aimed at encouraging scientists to find a way to reverse the aging process, is a primary activity of the Methuselah Foundation. The Mprize fund continues to grow and currently stands at more than $3 Million. Prizes will be awarded to research groups that can most successfully extend the lifespan of laboratory mice.

"Age-related diseases cause people to die much younger than they should," said Dr. Cooney, "and from my research I foresee the possibility of slowing down or even curing these diseases. The Mprize is a great way to raise public awareness that the degeneration of aging is not inevitable -- I am looking forward to joining this effort."

Dr. Cooney studies the process of DNA methylation or, as it is becoming known, the field of "epigenetics," which is the selective silencing of gene activity along specific segments of a DNA strand. This field is of increasing interest, because abnormal methylation patterns have been shown to be associated with many diseases, such as cancer. In his lab, Dr. Cooney studies how the methylation pattern of DNA can be changed both by drugs and by specific nutrients found in foods and nutritional supplements, thus altering gene expression, metabolism and lifespan in mammals.

Dr. Cooney and his group are using a novel approach to studying aging in mice. Unlike most studies to date, Dr. Cooney's group treats female mice before they give birth, instead of treating only the progeny. In this way, the effect of treatment of the pregnant mother on her offsprings' lifespan can be measured. This important work is being supported by a $5 Million National Institute of Aging Grant.

Methuselah Foundation co-founder, David Gobel, commented, "We're excited to welcome Dr. Cooney as a serious and well-funded participant in the Mprize competition." Dr. Aubrey de Grey, the Methuselah Foundation's Chairman and Chief Science Officer, said about Cooney's work, "I believe that Dr. Cooney's approach will contribute significantly to the growing body of research, which could realize extended healthy human lifespans in this generation."

About Dr. Craig Cooney

Craig Cooney, Ph.D. obtained his Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis. He proposed the basis of his current work, that nutrients in and above the normal range can change DNA methylation, in 1993. Cooney is an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

About the Methuselah Foundation

The Methuselah Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to accelerating the development of foreseeable, science-based therapies to combat aging. Its main activities are the funding of SENS research, and the Methuselah Mouse Prize, which is being offered to the scientific research teams that significantly extend the lifespan of middle-aged laboratory mice. Further details of the Methuselah Foundation can be found at: www.methuselahfoundation.org or www.Mprize.org

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=338137

 Contact: David Gobel Methuselah Foundation 202-306-0989 Contact via http://www.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=FAE07CBD0F719BC8  

SOURCE: Methuselah Foundation

Source: MARKET WIRE

More News in this Category