Scientist finds inspiration to explore senescence due to personal loss

Biologist Juan Manuel Vazquez Uncovers Secrets of Aging in Bats, Whales, and Tortoises

Juan Manuel Vazquez, a biologist at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, has dedicated his career to understanding the mysteries of aging. His fascination with the subject began during his college years, when he found himself captivated by a class about the biology of aging.

Before embarking on this scientific journey, Vazquez, like many others, found the topic of evolution rather unexciting. However, he soon realised that evolution could open up possibilities for studying things that were beyond the reach of a single lifetime. This realization sparked his curiosity and set him on a path to explore the secrets of aging in some of the world's longest-lived creatures.

Vazquez's research focuses on animals that are closely related to short-lived creatures, such as bats. He takes small skin clippings from a bat's wing for his research, ensuring that the process does not harm the animal. This allows him to study these animals and tackle problems that were previously considered out of reach.

In the lab, Vazquez grows cell cultures from his samples to study bat genes without disturbing the animal. He particularly focuses on bats belonging to the genus Myotis, which vary in lifespan, with some species only surviving for a few years and others, such as Brandt's bats, living over 40 years.

Vazquez was inspired by the inventor of insulin, and his work is driven by his family's experiences with aging-related conditions and a desire to find cures for diseases like cancer and aging. He has also expanded his research to include other long-lived species, such as Galapagos tortoises, bowhead whales, and Greenland sharks, which have exceptionally long lifespans, with the latter two living beyond 200 years.

Vazquez's broad interest led him to come up with his portable genetic sequencing kit, which can be brought on a plane without issues and can sequence an animal's genome within 18 hours. This invention was inspired by his interactions with photographers, who had to figure out how to safely carry expensive gear to remote locations.

Vazquez's academic journey began at advanced medical centers like Mass General Brigham in Boston and the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio during his childhood. Despite originally planning to attend college in Puerto Rico, a mistake during application preparations led him to attend the University of Rochester in New York, where he was introduced to researchers studying the evolution of aging in naked mole rats. Currently, Vazquez is conducting his research on aging genes at Harvard University.

As a child, Vazquez was inspired by the idea of being a polymath, being well-rounded in various fields including science, arts, history, and architecture. This multidisciplinary approach is reflected in his research, which not only uncovers the secrets of aging but also contributes to our understanding of evolution and the genetics of various species.