Philip Ruzycki, PhD
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Email: p.ruzycki@nospam.wustl.edu
Brian Clark, PhD
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Drs. Ruzycki and Clark Awarded Nine-Month Research Grant from the Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation
ST. LOUIS, MO – November 11, 2024 — The Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation has awarded a nine-month research grant to Philip Ruzycki, PhD and Brian Clark, PhD, supporting their groundbreaking project titled “Epigenetic Changes in the Rapidly Aging Killifish.” This funding will enable an in-depth exploration into the molecular changes associated with aging, providing valuable insights into epigenetic shifts that accompany the rapid life cycles of killifish.
The research grant period spans from November 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025. The Reeves Foundation’s commitment to supporting innovative studies in the biological sciences aligns with the objectives of Drs. Ruzycki and Clark, who aim to deepen our understanding of aging processes by examining how these swift alterations in killifish epigenetics could have broader implications for age-related research in other species, including humans.
Killifish are uniquely suited for aging studies due to their short lifespans and rapid development, providing an ideal model to observe changes over a compressed timeframe. By focusing on epigenetic changes, this research has the potential to uncover critical pathways that could eventually inform the development of therapies or interventions for age-related diseases.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.
For more information about the Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation, the work Dr. Ruzycki, the work of Dr. Clark, or WashU Medicine, please visit: Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation | Ruzycki Lab | Clark Lab | WashU Medicine