Aging is emerging as a malleable process in most organisms investigated. Chronological age is the most prominent risk factor for age-related diseases and mortality. In the last decades, hundreds of behavioral or small molecules interventions have shown efficacy in extending the healthspan and lifespan in model organisms. Nevertheless, very few studies have attempted the jump from model organisms to humans. Now, the combination of large observational and interventional datasets and new computational approaches have let researchers to develop new biomarkers of aging, age related diseases and mortality risks. Therewith it becomes possible to measure the efficacy of aging interventions in humans. The time is ripe to transition into human clinical trials.
In this Research Topic, we will define our proposed approach to clinical trials in humans with focused Reviews on:
1) outcome measures for clinical trials intervening aging, particularly focusing on biomarker efficacies.
2) aging interventions that have already been tested in humans.
3) aging interventions that should be prioritized for human testing.
4) commercial aspects of aging interventions in humans.
5) ethical aspects of human aging interventions.
6) capacity building: how to build networks of researchers and industry to catalyze aging interventions in humans.
In combination, this Research Topic will give the field a framework of how to approach human clinical trials for aging research, a topic that is highly relevant given the considerable effort that is being made by both research institutions and the industry towards drug development targeting aging.
Keywords: drug development, biomarkers, aging, healthspan, lifespan
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
