Longhua Guo, Ph.D.

Research

My lab will explore the molecular and cellular processes that reverse tissue aging. Freshwater flatworms called planaria are extremely long-lived and famed for the ability to regenerate missing body parts after injury, an ability that arises from the abundance of stem cells in their tissues. Although older planaria show classic signs of aging—including tissue atrophy and lost fertility—I found that regeneration can repair aging tissues and restore the animals’ fertility. Now, using cutting-edge techniques in genetics, genomics, and stem-cell biology, I will isolate genes that are required for tissue rejuvenation. My work could lead to treatments that slow or reverse age-related tissue degeneration and extend healthy aging in humans.