The Dog Aging Project (DAP), a comprehensive five-year initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health, is actively seeking canine volunteers to participate in groundbreaking research on aging. This ambitious $23 million project aims to unravel the complexities of aging in dogs, with potential implications for understanding human aging as well. Led by a consortium of veterinary colleges, including Colorado State University and Texas A&M, the DAP is one of the largest research data-gathering programs of its kind.
Broadening the Canine Cohort
While nearly 30,000 dog owners have already volunteered, the DAP is now focusing on recruiting specific categories of dogs to ensure a diverse study population. Researchers are particularly interested in:
- Large breed dogs (70-100 lbs), especially breeds other than Labradors, golden retrievers, and German shepherds.
- Giant breed dogs (over 100 lbs) such as Great Danes and mastiffs.
- Hound dogs, spaniels, pointers, terriers, bulldogs, and pit bulls (both purebred and mixed breed).
- Working dogs involved in herding, K9 units, service roles, agility, and mushing.
- Dogs living in rural areas, small towns, and large cities.
"Healthy aging is the result of both genetics and the environment," said Dr. Daniel Promislow, DAP principal investigator and co-director, University of Washington. "It’s really important for us to study dogs who live in all kinds of environments from farm dogs to city dogs."
Rapamycin Trial: A Potential Life-Extender
A key component of the DAP is the TRIAD clinical trial, which is investigating the potential of rapamycin, an immunosuppressant, to extend lifespan and improve healthspan in dogs. Rapamycin has demonstrated promising results in mice, delaying or reversing age-related disorders. The trial aims to determine if similar benefits can be observed in canines.
The Importance of Puppies
Given the long-term nature of the DAP, the inclusion of puppies is especially valuable. Researchers aim to follow these dogs throughout their entire lives, gathering longitudinal data on various aspects of health and aging.
"Better understanding the health effects of the presence and timing of spaying and neutering your dogs is of particular interest to the veterinary community," said Dr. Kate Creevy, DAP chief veterinary officer, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University. "Following puppies through the process of spaying or neutering or through reproductive activity will tell us a lot about how these events influence healthy aging."
Joining the DAP Pack
Dog owners interested in participating in the Dog Aging Project can nominate their dog at DogAgingProject.org. Participants will be asked to complete annual health surveys and may be eligible for additional research activities, including genetic analyses and biological sample collection. All data collected by the DAP are available to researchers worldwide through Terra, a cloud-based computing platform.
