Core Leader: Steven N. Austad, PhD
Core Co-leader: Rochelle Buffenstein, PhD
Core Co-leader: Suzette Tardif, PhD

Certain processes of life are inherently destructive.  As a consequence, age-related deterioration of physiological function is virtually ubiquitous among animals.  However, nature has repeatedly produced species with both exceptional resistance, and exceptional susceptibility, to these destructive processes.  The former live and remain healthy for a long time, the latter a short time. We call these "species of exceptional biogerontological interest" (EBI species), because of their potential to inform us about both the identity and nature of the destructive processes that cause senescence as well as protective mechanisms of exceptional resistance to these processes. The Comparative Biology of Aging Core employs EBI species to address these issues. The overarching goal of the Core is to provide to researchers high quality, hard-to-get biological research materials from EBI species. 

CORE SERVICES:

• Procure, cryopreserve,and provide to investigators tissues, cells, and other samples (e.g., blood, plasma,bone marrow) from EBI species. 
• Maintain research colonies, or purchase animals or tissues, of selected EBI species.
• Provide consultation and feasibility assessment for investigators wishing to pursue comparative aging studies. 

The design of comparative studies requires detailed information on the longevity of specific species, the reliability of that information, availability of tissues from archived materials, on-going field or laboratory studies, and up-to-date information on the phylogenetic relation among species.  The Leader and Co-leaders of this Core are ideally positioned to provide such information to interested investigators. These consultations will be offered on an ad hoc basis as requested.