Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) awarded Washington University a Project Grant totaling $556,121 (awarded January 15, 2026, with completion by December 31, 2030) under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) to conduct scientific research on transgenerational adaptation of longevity changes in response to repeated environmental stresses. The research investigates how organisms—specifically Caenorhabditis elegans—adapt across successive generations when exposed to repeated environmental stresses and whether such repeated exposures trigger transgenerational epigenetic inheritance mechanisms that alter organismal longevity. The project builds on preliminary findings demonstrating that hypoxia exposure extends lifespan in exposed generations while producing intergenerational lipid reductions and transgenerational fertility reductions in descendant populations maintained under normal conditions.

The deliverables under this award include scientific research outputs examining whether organisms adapt on a transgenerational timescale following repeated generational stress exposure, whether successive generational exposures to different stresses produce additive toxic effects, and how repeated environmental stresses over multiple generations elicit transgenerational epigenetic adaptation. This research addresses gaps in understanding complex organismal traits influenced by repeated stress exposures across generations—findings with direct relevance to human health given contemporary exposure to successive generations of environmental toxins in agriculture and manufacturing. Research will be conducted at Washington University's St. Louis, Missouri campus through the Office of Sponsored Research Services Division.