William B Mair
Primary Faculty

William B Mair

Professor of Molecular Metabolism

Molecular Metabolism

wmair@hsph.harvard.edu

Other Positions

Director of the Harvard Chan School Aging Initiative

Molecular Metabolism

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health


Overview

Aging is a universal trait that is observed across the evolutionary spectrum. From a public health perspective, aging is also the critical risk factor for a variety of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, many forms of cancer and metabolic disease. Our lab is interested in understanding the molecular pathways underpinning the aging process, with the goal of using this knowledge to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat age-onset disorders.

In particular, we study the mechanisms by which animals can modulate the rate at which they age in response to changes in nutrition and the environment. The profound ability to slow aging when energy availability is low is seen in organisms ranging from yeast to primates and is coupled to a striking protection against a suite of age-related pathologies. By elucidating the genetic and molecular pathways that dictate this response, we aim to recapitulate the positive effects of dietary restriction on lifespan and health without the need for changes in dietary intake and its associated detrimental side effects.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/william-mair/


Bibliography


News

Can humans live longer? Maybe.

William Mair—whose lab focuses on the biology of the aging process—was a guest on a Nov. 29 podcast focused on the limits of human longevity.

Life expectancy may be reaching upper limits—for now

William Mair, professor of molecular metabolism at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shares what researchers know about the biology of aging, the importance of improving health span, and the need to take moonshots.

Aging matters

Sneha Dutta, PhD ’21, wants to understand why individuals age differently and if there’s a way to counter old age’s harmful effects.