# Identifying protective omics profiles in centenarians and translating these into preventive and therapeutic strategies

> **NIH NIH UH2** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2021 · $337,810

## Abstract

Assessing accuracy of protein measurements across multiple analytical platforms. Our NIA funded
project, UH2AG064704 “Identifying protective omics profiles in centenarians and translating these into
preventive and therapeutic strategies”, is a phased UH2/UH3 project. We are currently in the UH2 phase, in
which we achieve specific milestones to set the stage for and facilitate the conduct of the UH3 phase. Among
the major UH2 milestones, we are recruiting and enrolling 1,400 centenarians and their offspring, and we are
collecting their phenotype data, blood and fecal samples. In the UH3 phase, we will generate multi-omics
profiles of those samples and correlate them with extreme human longevity phenotypes. Other major
milestones of the UH2 phase include planning for the generation of omics data and developing analyses
pipelines that we will use in the UH3 phase of the project. We have made substantial progress toward
enrollment, data management, and plans for the majority of omics data and we also realized the importance of
using an accurate data generating platform that is well harmonized with those used by other studies of human
extreme longevity such as the Long Life Family Study and the Longevity Consortium. In our parent application,
we proposed to use the SOMAscan technology to generate serum proteomics. Alternative proteomics
approaches include labelled mass spectrometry and the Olink Explore platforms. These three mainstream
technologies have pros and cons in terms of required sample preparation, coverage of the human proteome,
accuracy of protein abundance assessment, and specificity of proteins detection and their performance has not
been compared in a comprehensive way. In this request for an administrative supplement we propose to
generate data that will inform the choice of the best proteomic platform to be used in the UH3 phase of the
project. We have the opportunity to join forces with other studies of human extreme longevity to compare mass
spectrometry, SOMAscan and Olink platforms using a well-designed spike-in experiment. We propose two
specific aims. Specific Aim 1: To generate SOMAlogic-based proteomic profiles of 250 samples that
represent triplicates of one control condition, and 6 pools including 8 different proteins spiked at 13 different
abundance, for a total of 3 + 3𝑥6𝑥13 = 237 samples. We will add an additional 13 blank samples for quality
control. Specific Aim 2: To conduct quality control analysis of the proteomic profiles generated using the
SOMAscan, Olink and Mass-spectrometry technologies. Cleaned and normalized data will be used to analyze
the dosage-based trajectories of protein abundance to detect proteins that change in the different pools and to
estimate sensitivity and specificity of protein detection of the SOMAscan, Olink and mass-spectrometry
technologies. The comparison of data generated with the Somascan technology versus alternative technology
will provide critical information to guide the selection o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10449626
- **Project number:** 3UH2AG064704-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** THOMAS T PERLS
- **Activity code:** UH2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $337,810
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10449626

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10449626, Identifying protective omics profiles in centenarians and translating these into preventive and therapeutic strategies (3UH2AG064704-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10449626. Licensed CC0.

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