JAFARI LABORATORY
The ultimate goal of The Jafari Lab is to improve healthspan!
Healthspan Pharmacology
Slowing the aging process delays the progression of age-related diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. The ultimate goal of our basic science lab work is to improve healthspan and add healthy years to human life. We have pioneered an algorithm for screening, identifying, and elucidating the mechanisms of potential anti-aging compounds, including natural products and dietary supplements, with Drosophila melanogaster serving as the central model. Since 2005, we have discovered five natural products that significantly extend lifespan and enhance healthspan in flies—Rhodiola rosea, Rosa damascena, curcumin, cinnamon, and Angelica keiskei. Expanding our research in 2018 to include mouse models, we have explored the effects of Rhodiola rosea on health biomarkers and its impact on the microbiomes of flies and mice, aiming to bridge the understanding of microbiome, aging, and health, with the ultimate goal of testing these compounds on human health biomarkers.
EduCational Research
The rates of stress-induced mental and physical health disorders are increasing alarmingly among undergraduate students, with about a quarter of them showing one or more signs of mild to moderate mental-health distress. Increased expectations of mastery of high volumes of material, heightened reliance upon exams to determine course performance, and their own poor time management are significant sources of anxiety for the majority of students. However, it is essential for universities to provide students with effective tools to manage their emotional and psychological well-being for long-term academic success. Our work with diverse student populations and the Life101 course focuses on teaching undergraduate students how to handle stress and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
