# Genome wide association analysis with Drosophila to discover how metformin effects longevity

> **NIH NIH R01** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $398,645

## Abstract

Summary
Drosophila can be used to discover the underlying molecular mechanisms by which metformin
effects lifespan. From 112 tested cohorts, we found metformin can extend fly lifespan as much
as 30% but in other conditions the compound equally reduced lifespan. Here we propose to
identify genetic factors that contribute to this variation. We will conduct a genome wide
association (GWA) analysis with Drosophila, combined with emerging bioinformatic analytics
and molecular validation studies. We propose as well, an innovative approach to bridge
Drosophila analysis to humans and mice by mapping response SNPs of the fly onto orthologous
gene expression data from mammals. We will combine these approaches to resolve how
metformin affects aging, and through which pathways it positively or negatively modulates
lifespan.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10424563
- **Project number:** 5R01AG069639-03
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MARC TATAR
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $398,645
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10424563

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10424563, Genome wide association analysis with Drosophila to discover how metformin effects longevity (5R01AG069639-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10424563. Licensed CC0.

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