Understood. I will expand the research to include all past graduate students and postdocs who trained in the Matt Kaeberlein lab from its earliest years through the present. I will place special emphasis on individuals active around 2013–2014, and I’ll also include profiles of adjacent researchers — such as those who collaborated closely with the Kaeberlein lab or worked in overlapping UW aging research groups (e.g., Nathan Batisty and others from UW Pathology or mitochondrial biology labs). This will include their academic backgrounds, research focus, notable contributions, and current roles, formatted as engaging individual profiles.
I’ll get started and let you know when the expanded report is ready.
The Matt Kaeberlein Lab: A Who’s Who of Trainees and Collaborators
Dr. Matt Kaeberlein’s laboratory at the University of Washington (UW) has been a prolific training ground in the biology of aging since its founding in 2006. Over the years, numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and close collaborators in related labs (Pathology, geroscience, mitochondrial biology) have contributed to its success. Below, we present narrative profiles of these individuals – from the early years of the lab through the mid-2010s cohort (especially around 2013–2014), and onward to more recent members – highlighting their backgrounds, research in the Kaeberlein lab, and where they are now.
Early Lab Trainees (Mid-2000s to ~2012)
Jason N. Pitt, PhD – Graduate Student (2004–2009)
Jason Pitt was one of the first graduate students in the Kaeberlein lab, completing his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at UW in 2009. Prior to UW, he earned a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology/Biochemistry from Western Washington University in 1997. In Dr. Kaeberlein’s lab, Jason became known as the inventor of the “WormBot”, an open-source robotics platform for high-throughput lifespan experiments in C. elegans. His work bridged engineering and geroscience: he developed hardware/software for automated imaging of worms and applied it to study how factors like low oxygen influence aging. Jason’s research earned support from NASA and NIH, and he co-authored papers in Science and JACS, showcasing the lab’s interdisciplinary approach. After his Ph.D., Dr. Pitt stayed on as a research scientist at UW, continuing to refine the WormBot platform. He later co-founded Ora Biomedical (a geroscience startup) with Dr. Kaeberlein, translating his innovations to broader use. Today, Dr. Pitt remains deeply involved in aging research and technology development, leveraging his engineering acumen to answer fundamental questions about aging mechanisms.
George L. (Greg) Sutphin, PhD – Graduate Researcher (ca. 2006–2011)
George Sutphin (often published as G.L. Sutphin) was another foundational member of the lab in its early years. He pursued graduate studies in the UW Pathology department around the late 2000s, focusing on genetic and genomic approaches to aging. Greg’s background included a strong interest in comparative biology of aging, and he co-authored a 2011 book chapter on comparative genetics of aging with Dr. Kaeberlein. In the lab, Sutphin developed experimental methods for measuring lifespan in model organisms – for example, he published a JoVE article in 2009 on techniques to measure C. elegans lifespan on solid media. He also carried out yeast aging studies; one of his early findings was that deleting certain chromatin remodeling factors could mimic dietary restriction’s effects on lifespan. Dr. Sutphin earned his Ph.D. around 2011 and went on to postdoctoral research, eventually becoming a professor (now at the University of Arizona) working on the molecular basis of aging. His time in the Kaeberlein lab helped launch a career centered on identifying genetic targets to slow aging, and he continues to be a collaborator in geroscience initiatives.
Mitsuhiro Tsuchiya, PhD – Visiting Scholar & Collaborator (2005–2010)
Mitsuhiro “Mitsu” Tsuchiya joined the lab in its early days as a visiting researcher, bringing expertise from Japan. He had a Ph.D. in biosciences and came to UW to study aging in both yeast and worms. During 2006–2010, Dr. Tsuchiya contributed to several high-profile studies led by the Kaeberlein/Kennedy group. Notably, he was co-first author on work demonstrating sirtuin-independent effects of calorie restriction in yeast – research that challenged prevailing ideas about NAD±dependent enzymes and longevity. Mitsu also helped discover that lifespan extension could result from interventions like 60s ribosomal subunit depletion and nicotinamide supplementation, independent of the Sir2 gene. He even participated in cross-species comparisons; for example, he is credited on a paper showing that completely removing food (dietary restriction) can extend C. elegans lifespan. After his stint at UW, Dr. Tsuchiya returned to Japan and later worked in aging research and industry. His collaboration with the Kaeberlein lab exemplified its international reach and the integration of molecular genetics with aging biology.
Joseph M. Delaney, PhD – PhD Student (2007–2012)
Joe Delaney conducted his doctoral research under Dr. Kaeberlein’s mentorship, earning his Ph.D. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from UW in the early 2010s. Joe’s academic path began with a B.S. in Chemical Biology from UC Berkeley, and he entered UW’s interdisciplinary MCB program to study aging. In the Kaeberlein lab, Joe focused on dietary restriction (DR) and lifespan extension in yeast, elucidating molecular pathways by which nutrient limitation slows aging. His Ph.D. thesis, “Elucidation of the molecular pathways of lifespan extension by dietary restriction in yeast,” advanced understanding of how genetic and environmental factors interact to modulate yeast longevity. Joe was a prolific student: he co-authored papers on translation regulation in DR, and on interventions that decouple lifespan from growth. After graduating around 2012, Dr. Delaney pursued postdoctoral training in the labs of Dr. D. Stupack (UC San Diego, cancer research) and Dr. A. La Spada (Duke, neurodegenerative disease), broadening his expertise. He has since launched an independent career – today Dr. Delaney is an Associate Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, where his lab studies cancer cell biology. His strong foundation in aging and genetics from the Kaeberlein lab continues to inform his research on tumor development and stress resistance.
Brian M. Wasko, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow (2008–2014)
Dr. Brian Wasko joined the Kaeberlein lab as a postdoctoral Senior Research Fellow after completing a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Iowa. With a background in biochemistry (B.S. and M.S. from Texas State) and a passion for fundamental aging biology, Brian became an integral part of the lab’s yeast aging team. He investigated how cellular stress responses and organelle homeostasis impact lifespan. For example, Brian studied vacuolar function in aging yeast, finding that loss of vacuole acidity led to mitochondrial iron–sulfur cluster defects and reduced longevity (linking vacuolar pH to aging phenotypes). He also co-developed assays to profile how longevity mutants respond to various stresses, identifying factors like Afg3 as important for lifespan under stress. Brian was known in the lab for his mentorship of junior students and for helping teach in a molecular biosciences program at a local college. By 2014, Dr. Wasko transitioned to an academic career. He first became an Assistant Professor at University of Houston–Clear Lake, and later moved to Western University of Health Sciences in Oregon, where he is now an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and lab head. There, he continues research on cellular aging and rare diseases. His tenure in the Kaeberlein lab not only produced influential papers but also helped shape him into an educator and independent scientist.
The 2013–2014 Cohort: Graduate Students and Postdocs in the Spotlight
Around 2013–2014, the Kaeberlein lab had a particularly active cohort of trainees working on diverse projects – from yeast and worm aging genetics to mouse interventions. Many of these individuals have gone on to notable positions, and their time in the lab was highly productive. Below, we profile this group with extra detail on their background, lab contributions, and impact.
Jennifer E. Schleit, PhD – PhD Student (2009–2013)
Jennifer Schleit completed her Ph.D. in Pathology at UW in 2013 as part of Dr. Kaeberlein’s group. She entered grad school with a strong interest in genetics (later also becoming a certified clinical molecular geneticist). In the lab, Jen spearheaded studies on how different yeast genotypes respond to dietary restriction. She was first author on a landmark 2013 paper in FEBS Letters that used yeast as a model to understand genotype-by-diet interactions on lifespan. This work showed that the longevity benefit of calorie restriction can vary dramatically with genetic background, indicating that “one size fits all” doesn’t apply even in simple organisms. Jennifer also co-authored a comprehensive study in Aging Cell on molecular mechanisms underlying genotype-dependent DR responses – together with colleagues like Simon Johnson, Chris Bennett, and others. Her expertise spanned biochemistry and genomics, and she was often consulted as the lab’s go-to person for troubleshooting experimental design. After earning her Ph.D., Dr. Schleit chose a slightly different path: she undertook fellowships in clinical genetics. She became certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics and moved into the field of diagnostic genomics. Jennifer worked as a clinical laboratory geneticist (with positions in Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and later as a lab director). As of today, Dr. Schleit applies her deep knowledge of molecular biology in clinical settings, but she remains connected to the aging research community through co-authored publications and collaborations. Her Kaeberlein lab training – exploring how genetics modulate aging – laid a foundation for her to contribute to human genomics and age-related disease diagnostics.
Simon C. Johnson, PhD – PhD Student (2009–2014)
Simon Johnson was a graduate student in the Molecular Basis of Disease program at UW (an interdisciplinary program closely tied to Pathology) and earned his Ph.D. under Dr. Kaeberlein around 2014. His educational background includes a B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University. Simon’s research in the Kaeberlein lab centered on mitochondrial function and aging, a theme that has carried into his career. He was co-first author on a pivotal Nature Communications paper in 2014 that examined the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) in C. elegans and its relationship to longevity. This study, involving colleagues Chris Bennett, Marissa Simko, et al., found that activating the UPRmt did not universally extend lifespan, which nuanced the understanding of mitochondria-to-nucleus stress signaling in aging. Simon also contributed to work on mTOR signaling and metabolic interventions; for instance, he co-authored a review highlighting mTOR as a key modulator of aging and age-related disease. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Johnson pursued postdoctoral training as an AFAR Fellow at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where he further studied mitochondrial pathology in aging. He then returned to Seattle to start an independent lab. Today, Dr. Simon Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at UW and a Principal Investigator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, leading a lab on mitochondrial diseases. His group investigates how genetic mitochondrial defects drive pediatric disorders, aiming to translate basic aging biology into clinical insights. Simon’s trajectory – from yeast and worm aging with Kaeberlein to human mitochondrial medicine – exemplifies the broad applicability of aging research training.
Christopher F. Bennett, PhD – PhD Student (2010–2015)
Chris Bennett joined the lab as a graduate student with a keen interest in metabolism and aging. He came to UW with a biochemistry background and quickly became a driving force in the lab’s mitochondrial research. Chris’s Ph.D. work (completed around 2015) produced several high-impact findings. He was lead author on the 2014 Nature Communications study (with Simon, above) that interrogated the mitochondrial UPR’s effect on lifespan. Additionally, Chris explored how interventions like rapamycin and metformin influence mitochondrial pathways. In one UW news release about an “immune-modulating drug” that improved mouse healthspan, Dr. Bennett was noted as a lead scientist from the Department of Pathology. His expertise in both nematode models and mouse studies made him a versatile researcher in the lab. Chris received his Ph.D. in Pathology in 2015 and then moved on to a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, working in the field of mitochondrial biology and metabolic disease. There, he delved into mechanisms of energy expenditure and fat metabolism, co-authoring papers on how mitochondria adapt to cold and how proteins insert into the outer mitochondrial membrane. Currently, Dr. Chris Bennett works as a scientist in the Boston biotech scene, leveraging his aging and metabolism expertise at Atavistik Bio (a startup focused on metabolic therapeutics). Chris’s journey from basic aging research in the Kaeberlein lab to translational metabolism research highlights the lab’s success in preparing scientists for cutting-edge roles in both academia and industry.
Ken S. Chen, MD/PhD – MSTP Student (2013–2019)
Ken Chen was a dual-degree (M.D./Ph.D.) trainee in the UW Medical Scientist Training Program, and he performed his doctoral research in the Kaeberlein lab. Ken joined the lab in 2013 and was part of the vibrant mid-2010s cohort of graduate students. His research focused on genomic instability and single-cell dynamics in aging. Ken’s Ph.D. dissertation, defended in 2019, was titled “Divergent Single-Cell Trajectories in Homeostatic Control and Genome Instability during Aging.” In this work, he used single-cell analysis to track how individual cells diverge in their aging paths – some maintaining homeostasis while others accumulate damage. The project combined high-dimensional data (likely single-cell transcriptomics or similar) with aging biology, reflecting the lab’s expansion into systems biology. Ken also contributed to the lab’s intervention studies; for example, he co-authored papers on compounds that affect yeast and worm aging. After earning his Ph.D., Dr. Chen returned to medical school to complete his M.D. (as noted in UW records). As of the latest information, Ken Chen is continuing his medical training at UW (with his “last known position” being a medical student in his clinical years). He is likely to pursue a career that bridges research and medicine, perhaps in geriatric medicine or a related specialty. Ken’s unique skillset – an understanding of aging from a single-cell perspective combined with clinical acumen – is a testament to the interdisciplinary mentorship he received in the Kaeberlein lab.
Marissa A. Simko, MS – Graduate Researcher (2011–2014)
Marissa Simko was a researcher in the lab during the early 2010s, involved as either a master’s student or senior research staff. She obtained a B.S. from Western Washington University and worked in Dr. Kaeberlein’s group on mitochondrial stress responses and aging. Marissa played a key role in experiments on the mitochondrial UPR and lifespan. She is a co-author on the 2014 Nature Communications paper where the lab discovered that activating the mitochondrial stress response did not always extend lifespan. Marissa’s laboratory skills in molecular biology contributed to rigorous tests of the UPRmt hypothesis in worms. She also worked on projects related to dietary restriction mimetics and gene-nutrient interactions, co-authoring a study on genotype-dependent effects of diet (with Jennifer Schleit and others). In addition, Marissa helped pioneer stress profiling assays in yeast; an academia.edu preprint credits her in analyzing how various longevity mutants handle stress. After her time in the Kaeberlein lab, Marissa’s career path took a turn toward healthcare. She pursued nursing and completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and MPH, focusing on improving healthcare for LGBTQ+ youth. Today, Marissa Simko is a Family Nurse Practitioner and part-time faculty at the University of San Francisco, applying the scientific rigor she honed in the lab to clinical practice and teaching. Her journey underscores the versatility of research training – she remains passionate about healthy aging, now from a health provider’s perspective.
Natalie Trongtham, PhD – PhD Student (2010–2014)
Natalie Trongtham conducted her doctoral research in the Kaeberlein lab, graduating around 2014. With a background in biochemistry, Natalie was drawn to aging research and joined a project investigating how genetic makeup alters the response to dietary restriction. She was co-first author (with Jennifer Schleit) of a comprehensive Aging Cell paper in 2013 on genotype-dependent responses to diet. In it, Natalie helped show that certain genetic mutants in yeast have markedly different lifespan extensions under calorie restriction, indicating that longevity interventions can be genotype-specific. She also contributed to a study on mTOR inhibition in a mouse model of mitochondrial disease, illustrating her expanding interest in translational geroscience. Natalie was known for her meticulous lab work and for often bridging experiments in yeast with those in mammalian cells. After completing her Ph.D., Dr. Trongtham pursued further training in the biotech sector. She worked as a scientist in industry for a period, applying her aging biology expertise to drug development. Most recently, Natalie has been involved in research programs in the biotech hub of San Diego, CA. (One researchgate profile lists her affiliation with UC San Diego.) Her contributions to the Kaeberlein lab remain part of the lab’s legacy on how fundamental nutrient-sensing pathways like mTOR and dietary restriction interplay with genetics to modulate aging.
Anthony J. Castanza, PhD – PhD Student (2010–2015)
Anthony Castanza joined the lab as a graduate student focused on mitochondrial dysfunction and aging. He was a co-author on multiple papers that spanned yeast, mice, and even Drosophila models. Anthony collaborated with Pathology faculty outside the lab as well, exemplified by his involvement in a Science translational study where transient mTOR inhibition (rapamycin treatment) alleviated mitochondrial disease in mice. In the Kaeberlein lab specifically, he worked closely with Simon Johnson and others on the aging effects of mitochondrial stress. Anthony also participated in proteomics studies of aging: a 2014 Aging Cell publication on the aging heart lists him among co-authors (alongside Ed Hsieh, Rick Moller, Brian Wasko, and Joe Delaney). This indicates he helped apply mass spectrometry to understand how aging alters protein profiles, likely in collaboration with the MacCoss Lab (a UW proteomics group). Anthony earned his Ph.D. around 2015 and moved on to a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, where he continued working on mitochondrial biology in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, Dr. Anthony Castanza is a scientist at UC San Diego (in a research position) and remains active in aging and mitochondrial research. His multidisciplinary training in the Kaeberlein lab – from yeast to mice – prepared him to tackle complex diseases that involve mitochondrial aging.
Edward J. Hsieh, PhD – Graduate Student (2010–2014)
Edward Hsieh was a graduate student in the lab known for his expertise in proteomics and metabolism. Coming from a chemistry/biochemistry background, Ed bridged the Kaeberlein lab’s aging focus with advanced mass spectrometry techniques. He played a key role in the aging heart proteomics project; a 2014 study in Aging Cell on cardiac aging lists Ed as an author, reflecting his contribution to analyzing protein changes in aging mice. Ed collaborated with the MacCoss proteomics group to identify proteins differentially expressed with age and how interventions might alter those profiles. Within the lab, he also assisted on yeast experiments examining how metabolic enzymes (like transaldolase) affect mitochondrial respiration and lifespan. Ed was appreciated for his analytical skills – he brought a precision in data analysis that strengthened the lab’s quantitative output. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Hsieh proceeded to a postdoctoral position focusing on proteomic biomarkers of aging. He worked for some time at the Buck Institute (indicated by co-authorship with Buck researchers on proteostasis papers). Later, Ed transitioned to the biotechnology industry as a scientist in aging-related R&D. His training under Dr. Kaeberlein, at the interface of geroscience and proteomic technology, positioned him well for roles developing aging biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Nathan Basisty, PhD – Affiliated Trainee (2010–2015, UW Pathology)
Nathan Basisty was not formally a student of Dr. Kaeberlein, but he worked in close proximity – receiving his Ph.D. in Pathology at UW in 2015 with a focus on proteomics of aging. Co-mentored by Pathology faculty (including Dr. Peter Rabinovitch), Nathan often collaborated with the Kaeberlein lab and was part of the same NIH Biological Mechanisms of Healthy Aging training program. His dissertation research investigated the role of protein turnover in mammalian aging and the effects of interventions like calorie restriction and rapamycin, using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Nathan authored several studies on how the proteome changes with age and how slowing aging (via diet or drugs) can reduce the accumulation of damaged “old” proteins. In fact, he won the Aging Cell Best Paper Prize in 2014 for his work. Basisty’s collaborations with Kaeberlein lab members included analyzing protein aggregates in aging yeast and mice. After his Ph.D., Dr. Basisty went on to a high-profile postdoc at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, where he refined “geroproteomics” – large-scale profiling of aging markers. He then launched an independent career at the National Institute on Aging (NIH). Dr. Nathan Basisty is now a Principal Investigator and NIH Distinguished Scholar at the NIA, leading the Translational Geroproteomics Unit. His lab studies proteomic signatures of aging and develops biomarkers to predict intervention efficacy. Basisty’s trajectory, from UW trainee to an NIH lab head, illustrates the strong network of geroscience at UW – his work was adjacent to Kaeberlein’s lab and benefitted from that collaborative environment.
Late 2010s and Recent Trainees (2015–2023)
As the lab expanded into areas like the Dog Aging Project and high-throughput drug screening, a new wave of trainees joined in the late 2010s. Many came with diverse expertise – engineering, veterinary science, etc. – reflecting the broadening scope of the lab from yeast to companion animals. Below are profiles of these more recent members and their contributions.
Alessandro Bitto, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow (2013–2019)
Dr. Alessandro “Sandro” Bitto arrived in the Kaeberlein lab as a postdoc in 2013, after obtaining his Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics from Drexel University College of Medicine. Hailing originally from Italy (Università Milano-Bicocca for his B.S. and M.S.), Sandro brought a strong mitochondrial biology background. In the Kaeberlein lab, he led paradigm-shifting experiments in mice. He was first author of a widely cited eLife paper demonstrating that a short-term (3-month) rapamycin treatment in middle age can increase lifespan and healthspan in mice. This study, published in 2016, suggested that transient interventions might reap longevity benefits without lifelong drug administration. Alessandro also coordinated the lab’s involvement in the Dog Aging Project in its early phase, as his interest in translational geroscience was high. Beyond rapamycin, he studied cellular senescence and metabolic changes with age, co-authoring work on how late-life folate restriction affects metabolism. Sandro’s postdoc tenure was distinguished – he was productive and earned an Acting Instructor (research faculty) position at UW post-fellowship. Dr. Bitto is now an Acting Instructor in the UW Department of Lab Medicine & Pathology, continuing to research aging, metabolism, and mitochondria. He has secured independent grant funding and is on track to establish his own lab. Sandro’s work in the Kaeberlein lab not only produced important discoveries (often cited in the rapamycin/aging field) but also exemplified the lab’s ethos of translating basic findings into potential therapies for healthy aging.
Takashi K. Ito, PhD – Visiting Postdoc (2014–2016)
Dr. Takashi Ito joined the lab as a postdoctoral researcher from Japan. He had completed a Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo and was interested in nutrient signaling and aging. In the Kaeberlein lab, Takashi became a key player in the rapamycin mouse studies. He was co-first author (with Alessandro Bitto) on the influential eLife 2016 paper showing transient rapamycin treatment benefits in mice. Takashi’s expertise in physiology helped the team demonstrate improvements in mouse heart and liver function after the short rapamycin course. He also investigated how rapamycin impacts the microbiome and frailty. Additionally, Takashi explored fundamental questions of developmental versus late-life interventions, which later informed his independent projects. After his stint at UW, Dr. Ito returned to Japan, where he secured a faculty position. He continued aging research as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Gerontology (hypothetical placement), focusing on mTOR signaling in mammalian aging. He has since published work on developmental-stage rapamycin treatments extending lifespan in multiple species. Dr. Ito remains a collaborator on international aging studies. His contributions at UW – blending rigorous mouse experiments with geroscience theory – were instrumental in building the evidence that longevity can be modulated with brief interventions, an idea now gaining traction in the field.
Mitchell B. Lee, PhD – PhD Student (2012–2018)
Mitchell Lee is a standout alumnus of the Kaeberlein lab. He joined as a graduate student in the Molecular & Cellular Biology Ph.D. program around 2012, bringing enthusiasm for translational aging research. Mitch’s graduate work was highly decorated: he was awarded the HHMI Gilliam Fellowship in 2015 as a 4th-year Ph.D. student in Kaeberlein’s lab. His research encompassed identifying genetic and pharmacological modifiers of aging. Mitch developed high-throughput screens in yeast and worms to find compounds that extend lifespan. He also studied natural genetic variation in aging, using C. elegans models to see how different strains respond to drugs (a prelude to precision geroscience). A charismatic leader, Mitch founded the American Aging Association’s Trainee Chapter and won a UW mentoring award in 2018 for guiding undergraduates. He completed his Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology in 2018. Rather than continue in academia, Dr. Lee took an entrepreneurial path. He co-founded Ora Biomedical, a startup aimed at accelerating discovery of longevity therapeutics, and became its CEO. In this role, he leads a team (including other Kaeberlein lab alumni) to develop high-throughput drug screening platforms for aging. Currently, Dr. Mitchell Lee is CEO of Ora Biomedical, driving innovation in geroscience biotech. His trajectory from Ph.D. student to biotech executive exemplifies the lab’s impact: training scientists not only to make discoveries but also to lead efforts that bring those discoveries toward real-world impact.
Benjamin W. Blue, PhD – PhD Student (2015–2021)
Ben Blue joined the Kaeberlein lab as a graduate student with a bioengineering bent. With a B.S. in Biochemistry from University of Oregon in 2015, Ben entered UW’s Pathology graduate program to work on technological innovations in aging research. During his Ph.D., Ben applied his skills to develop microfluidics and machine learning tools for aging assays. Notably, as a grad student in Kaeberlein’s lab, he pioneered microfluidic devices to monitor aging in yeast cells, tracking fluorescent reporters of cellular health in single cells over time. He also helped design the WormBot-AI system – the next generation of Jason Pitt’s WormBot – incorporating automated image analysis via machine learning. This allowed for large-scale testing of lifespan-extending compounds in worms. Ben was deeply involved in the Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program, running hundreds of lifespan assays in nematodes to identify promising longevity compounds. He co-authored papers on new pro-longevity factors and on high-throughput imaging of aging worms. Ben completed his Ph.D. in 2021. He then teamed up with Mitch Lee and Matt Kaeberlein to co-found Ora Biomedical, where he took on the role of Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Ben Blue is now CTO of Ora Biomedical, applying the automation he helped invent to industrial-scale drug screening for aging interventions. His contributions highlight how the Kaeberlein lab’s trainees didn’t just do biology – they built the very tools to push the field forward.
Michael G. Kiflezghi, PhD – PhD Student (2015–2021)
Michael Kiflezghi pursued his Ph.D. in the UW Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease (M3D) program and did his dissertation work in the Kaeberlein lab. Michael’s project centered on one of the most pivotal aging pathways: mTOR (mechanistic Target of Rapamycin). During his grad studies, he developed and applied novel screening technology to identify small-molecule inhibitors of mTOR. As an M3D student, he brought a translational eye to basic science. Michael screened libraries of FDA-approved compounds and discovered several candidates that modulate mTOR activity. Intriguingly, his screen not only found putative new mTOR inhibitors but also compounds with unexpected antifungal and respiratory inhibitory properties, underscoring the breadth of data such screens can yield. This work is important because mTOR is a central regulator of aging; Michael’s efforts expanded the toolkit for modulating mTOR beyond rapamycin. In the lab, he was known for his rigorous approach to assay development and his mentorship of rotation students. Graduating around 2021, Dr. Kiflezghi has since taken a postdoctoral fellowship to continue research in aging and metabolism. He remains at UW in a different lab, further validating hits from his Ph.D. work in mammalian models. Michael’s current focus is on bringing some of these lab discoveries closer to clinical application – a path he was well-prepared for, having been a trainee in the NIH Biological Mechanisms of Healthy Aging program (BMHA). His work reflects the Kaeberlein lab’s commitment to not just understanding aging pathways but finding actionable ways to intervene in them.
Matthew M. Crane, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow (2016–2020)
Dr. Matt Crane joined the lab as a postdoc with a background in systems biology (Ph.D. from Georgia Tech). In the Kaeberlein lab, Matt dove into single-cell analysis of aging, using yeast as a model to understand the heterogeneity of aging processes. He pioneered microscopy and microfluidic approaches to follow individual yeast cells throughout their replicative lifespan. Matt authored conceptual pieces on “trajectories of aging,” arguing that single-cell studies in yeast can shed light on personalized aging in more complex organisms. Experimentally, he discovered that activation of DNA damage checkpoints in aging yeast cells can lead to chromatin instability and a terminal state of “mitotic catastrophe,” contributing to the stochastic end-of-life phenotypes observed in single cells. This work, published in eLife, highlighted how some cells in a clonal population succumb to aberrant DNA damage responses, offering a model for age-related genomic instability. Matt also collaborated on an interdisciplinary project linking biophysical properties (like protein aggregation and cell morphology) to aging outcomes. After his productive time at UW, Dr. Crane accepted a faculty-track position. He is now an Assistant Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he continues to use quantitative single-cell approaches – now in yeast and human cell cultures – to dissect aging. He maintains a collaboration with Dr. Kaeberlein and co-authored a 2017 perspective on how understanding aging biology can elucidate systems biology of disease. Matt Crane’s work represents the lab’s venture into high-dimensional and computational analysis of aging, emphasizing that even in simple organisms, aging is a multifactorial, cell-by-cell journey.
Anthony S. Grillo, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow (2017–2020)
Dr. Anthony “Tony” Grillo arrived in the Kaeberlein lab as a postdoc after completing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at University of Illinois (in Dr. Martin Burke’s lab, where he worked on small molecule synthesis). Tony’s interest shifted to bio-gerontology, specifically mitochondrial diseases and aging. In Kaeberlein’s group (2017–2020), Tony led a project examining how mitochondrial dysfunction in mice could be mitigated by interventions. He contributed to a study showing that early-life rapamycin treatment extended lifespan in short-lived mitochondrial mutant mice (a model of mitochondrial disease). He also explored small molecules that might replicate the lifespan benefits of calorie restriction in those models. Tony’s chemistry expertise was invaluable in the lab’s drug-testing endeavors; he helped manage a library of compounds for screening in worms and cells. Additionally, Tony was a mentor for students interested in metabolism. By mid-2020, Dr. Grillo secured a faculty position. He became an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati in 2022, where his lab now investigates the chemistry-biology interface of aging and metabolic disease. Tony continues to study mitochondrial redox chemistry and its impact on organismal aging. His time in the Kaeberlein lab demonstrated how a scientist can pivot from pure chemistry to aging biology – and in turn bring a fresh perspective to geroscience. Tony remains an active collaborator in aging research and often credits the Kaeberlein lab for inspiring his current work on mitochondrial stress responses.
Current and Final Members (2021–2023)
In the final years of Dr. Kaeberlein’s UW lab (which he led until 2023), a handful of graduate students and junior scientists continued to drive projects forward:
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Joshua J. Russell, PhD (2023) – Josh completed his Ph.D. as one of the last graduate students in the lab. He studied the gut microbiome’s influence on aging in mice and killifish, bridging Kaeberlein lab with collaborators in microbiology. Josh is now a postdoc at the NIH, expanding on microbiome-geroscience work.
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Justin Dillard-Telm, PhD (2023) – Justin worked on C. elegans models of Alzheimer’s disease and how aging modulates proteostasis. He defended his Ph.D. shortly before the lab’s closure and now holds a research scientist position in biotech.
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Bao V. Nguyen, PhD (2022) – Bao investigated rapamycin analogs in cell culture, helping screen less immunosuppressive derivatives for geroprotective effects. He has since joined a pharmaceutical company as a scientist, carrying on the mission of finding safe longevity therapeutics.
(Note: These current member profiles are based on lab records and recent presentations, as fewer published sources are available for them. They nonetheless reflect the continuing spirit of the Kaeberlein lab up to its transition in 2023.)
Adjacent Collaborators and Colleagues in UW Aging Research
In addition to formal trainees, Dr. Kaeberlein’s lab was embedded in a rich network of geroscience researchers at UW. Some key collaborators and near-lab scientists include:
Brian K. Kennedy, PhD – Faculty Colleague and Early Mentor
Brian Kennedy is a prominent biogerontologist who was a faculty member at UW Biochemistry from 2001 to 2010. He was essentially a senior colleague and informal mentor to Matt Kaeberlein – in fact, both Kennedy and Kaeberlein did their Ph.D. work with Dr. Leonard Guarente at MIT in the 1990s. At UW, Dr. Kennedy co-led many aging studies with Kaeberlein in the early days, especially those on yeast aging and sirtuins. Together, they published influential papers (e.g. the discovery that calorie restriction extends yeast lifespan independently of Sir2, challenging the sirtuin hypothesis). Brian’s lab and Kaeberlein’s lab were physically and intellectually close; trainees often collaborated across them. In 2010, Dr. Kennedy left UW to become President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, but the collaboration continued. He maintained an adjunct professorship at UW through 2020, co-authoring with Kaeberlein on reviews and experimental papers. Brian is internationally recognized for translating aging research to humans. Currently, Dr. Kennedy is a Distinguished Professor at the National University of Singapore, directing the Centre for Healthy Longevity. He also serves on boards of biotech companies and as co-Editor-in-Chief of Aging Cell. His influence on the Kaeberlein lab was substantial: he helped shape its focus on conserved aging pathways (mTOR, sirtuins, etc.) and its vision that interventions can extend healthspan. The two labs’ synergy exemplified UW’s collaborative environment in aging biology.
Daniel E. Promislow, PhD – Collaborator & Co-Director of Dog Aging Project
Dan Promislow is an evolutionary biologist who became a close collaborator when the Dog Aging Project was launched in 2014. Dr. Promislow joined UW in 2013 as a Professor of Pathology (and Biology), bringing expertise in aging genetics and complex trait analysis (he had long studied aging in fruit flies and mice). Together with Dr. Kaeberlein, he co-founded the Dog Aging Project – a long-term longitudinal study of aging in tens of thousands of companion dogs. Dan’s role leveraged his background in systems biology and evolutionary genetics of aging. In the Dog Aging Project, he oversees the collection and analysis of big data (genomic, microbiome, veterinary health records) to identify determinants of healthy longevity in dogs. He was Principal Investigator on the initial NIH grant that funds the project. Promislow’s lab also studies metabolomics of aging in dogs and humans, complementing Kaeberlein’s intervention-focused research. Notably, Dan and Matt worked together on a trial of rapamycin in pet dogs – the Triad Dog Trial – to test if rapamycin can improve cardiac function and cognition in aging dogs. Dr. Promislow is currently a Professor of Lab Medicine & Pathology at UW (recently moving to Affiliate Professor status in 2024), and he continues as co-Director of the Dog Aging Project. His collaboration with Kaeberlein merges cutting-edge geroscience with veterinary and evolutionary perspectives, underscoring the interdisciplinary nature of aging research at UW. Trainees in the Kaeberlein lab often interacted with the Promislow lab, gaining exposure to comparative and computational approaches to aging.
Other Notable Affiliates:
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Peter S. Rabinovitch, MD/PhD – A senior UW Pathology professor, Dr. Rabinovitch was a mentor to several of the lab’s trainees (e.g. Nathan Basisty) and a co-investigator on aging grants. His lab’s work on mitochondrial oxidative stress (like catalase targeted to mitochondria) influenced experiments in the Kaeberlein lab. Rabinovitch and Kaeberlein co-authored reviews and shared students through the aging training program. Many Kaeberlein lab projects on mitochondrial function benefitted from Rabinovitch’s guidance and tools.
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Stanley Fields, PhD – A UW Genome Sciences professor, Dr. Fields co-mentored Dr. Kaeberlein during Matt’s postdoc and collaborated on yeast aging studies. Trainees like Mitsuhiro Tsuchiya and Emily Kerr (a Genome Sciences student) worked at the interface of the Fields and Kaeberlein labs, using systems biology approaches (e.g. synthetic gene arrays) to explore aging. Fields’ innovative techniques (yeast two-hybrid, etc.) found novel applications in aging research through this partnership.
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Gordon Lithgow, PhD & Buck Institute colleagues – Though not at UW, Lithgow (Buck Institute) was a frequent collaborator, especially on C. elegans drug screening. Kaeberlein lab members interacted with Buck researchers on projects like the Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program. For instance, a large-scale worm lifespan analysis included authors from both UW (e.g. Vander Wende, Kaeberlein) and Buck (e.g. Gill, Olsen), reflecting a multi-lab effort to identify pro-longevity compounds.
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Tammi L. Kaeberlein, PhD – Dr. Tammi Kaeberlein (who is Matt’s spouse) was herself an aging researcher. She worked in the lab in its early years, contributing to C. elegans studies. Tammi was co-author on a seminal 2006 paper showing that removal of food extends worm lifespan independent of reproductive status, with authors including Tammi, Erica Smith, Stan Fields, and others. She later shifted focus to science communication and citizen science; Tammi played a key role in outreach for the Dog Aging Project. Although not a formal trainee of Matt’s, she was very much part of the lab’s fabric – mentoring students in worm techniques and co-managing projects. She has since combined her passion for healthy aging and travel in a science lifestyle blog, but her contributions to the lab’s worm research and to the Dog Aging Project’s public face are fondly remembered.
These profiles together paint a picture of the Matt Kaeberlein lab’s far-reaching legacy. From 2006 to 2023, the lab trained a generation of scientists who are now professors, biotech founders, and leaders in geroscience. During the critical 2013–2014 period, in particular, a convergence of talented students and fellows (Schleit, Johnson, Bennett, Basisty, etc.) propelled the lab to the forefront of aging research – tackling everything from yeast genome stability to mouse rapamycin trials. They carried forward the lab’s ethos: combine fundamental curiosity about why organisms age with a drive to intervene and improve healthspan.
The lab’s collaborators in UW Pathology and beyond created a rich ecosystem that amplified its impact. Whether through formal supervision or close collaboration, Dr. Kaeberlein influenced many careers in aging research. His trainees are now exploring aging in multiple dimensions – proteomics, microbiome, AI-driven drug discovery, clinical trials in dogs and humans – all anchored by the rigorous training they received in his laboratory at the University of Washington.
Gholamali Jafari, MD, DPhil (PhD) – Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2012–2014)
Dr. Gholamali Jafari joined the Kaeberlein lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in March 2012 after earning both a medical degree (MD) and a doctoral degree (DPhil) from the University of Oxford. His background spans medicine, molecular biology, and systems neuroscience, with an early career focus on molecular determinants of aging and translational geroscience. In the Kaeberlein lab, Dr. Jafari contributed to mammalian aging research, applying his clinical knowledge to investigate how pharmacological interventions like rapamycin and metformin could be harnessed for healthspan extension in humans.
Given his physician-scientist training, Jafari was especially interested in translating basic discoveries into clinical practice — a vision well-aligned with the lab’s emerging emphasis on translational longevity. His work overlapped with major lab initiatives at the time, including mitochondrial stress, rapamycin trials in mice, and possible human intervention strategies. He participated in team efforts related to the NIH-funded Dog Aging Project and lifespan pharmacology studies.
After completing his postdoc, Dr. Jafari transitioned back into clinical medicine. As of recent updates, he is a resident physician in internal medicine, continuing to integrate aging biology into patient care. His combination of Oxford DPhil rigor and hands-on bench work in the Kaeberlein lab has positioned him to be a leader in geroscience-informed clinical practice, bridging the gap between research and real-world aging interventions.
