Dog Aging Project

Together with Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Kate Creevy,[2] the project primarily focuses on research to understand dog aging through the collection and analysis of big data through citizen science.

Additionally, there is a small component of the project that explores the use of pharmaceuticals to potentially increase life span of dogs.

A small subset of those dogs (approximately 500) will be enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the pharmaceutical rapamycin, which has shown signs of extending longevity in species such as mice.

[5][6] The entire project also shares operational similarities to Darwin's Ark, a citizen science initiative of companion animals with more specific focus on genetics.

In 2017 the project reported the results of a 10 week trial showing that a small number of dogs that received rapamycin had better heart function than a control group.