Free Radical Biology and Aging Research Program

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Research Seminar Series

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules capable of inducing oxidative damage to DNA, protein, and lipids.  The intra- and extracellular content of these species increase during a variety of diseases.  Free radical damage is therefore believed to contribute to the accompanying degeneration of physiologic function.  Paradoxically, free radicals are also generated in response to normal physiologic stimuli and can exert reversible effects on protein function indicative of metabolic regulation.  The research being conducted by scientists within the Free Radical Biology and Aging Program focuses on establishing mechanisms by which free radicals regulate physiologic function and, conversely, exert deleterious effects during the progression of specific pathophysiologic events.  Chemical, biochemical, and physiological approaches are employed to define pathways of free radical production and removal, structural and functional alterations to biomolecules induced by free radicals, and novel aspects of mitochondrial bioenergetics and sulfur metabolism that impact these processes.  Disease related areas of investigation focus on the role of free radicals in various pulmonary (asthma), musculoskeletal (osteoarthritis), and cardiovascular (ischemia/reperfusion and heart failure) disorders associated with the aging process and exacerbated by obesity and systemic inflammation.