Sheba Researchers Receive $6 Million Grant to Study Ovarian Aging and Longevity
Sheba Medical Center researchers received a $6 million grant from the U.S. Nuttall Fund to study ovarian aging, challenging the belief that ovaries become inactive after menopause.
A new weekly column titled "Longevity Sciences" explores the rapidly growing longevity industry, examining everything from cutting-edge research to venture capital investments. Recent studies reveal that ovaries do not simply disappear after menopause, as long believed, but instead undergo transformation and continue to play a crucial role in human aging.
Breakthrough Research at Sheba Medical Center
Researchers at Sheba Medical Center have received a major $6 million grant from the U.S.-based Nuttall Fund to launch the OASIS (Ovarian Secretome and Integrated Health Span) study. Over three years, the project will track 650 women divided into two groups: women aged 40 to 50 experiencing menopausal transition, and women aged 60 and older. The study is led by Prof. Loren Patrick, director of the Center for Metabolomics and Molecular Characterization, and Dr. Abigail Goshen, director of the Healthy Longevity Research Institute and co-founder of the Sheba Longevity Center.
The Nuttall Fund, established by Amy Nuttall and private equity investor Scott Nuttall, focuses on accelerating scientific discovery in women's health and is directed by leading University of Pennsylvania researcher Prof. Michal Elovitz.
Beyond Egg Production
Historically, scientific research largely overlooked ovaries beyond their reproductive function. However, ovaries secrete hormones that communicate extensively with the brain, cardiovascular-metabolic system, and skeletal system. While estrogen and progesterone have been studied extensively, emerging evidence suggests ovaries secrete numerous other unknown biochemical factors.
Initial findings indicate that post-reproductive ovaries begin emitting immune system signals associated with chronic inflammation, a known hallmark of aging. Researchers hypothesize that ovarian aging may precede and dictate the aging rate of the entire body. Prof. Patrick notes that women face significantly higher risks of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in their sixties and seventies, pointing to a critical need for early medical intervention and biomarker mapping during perimenopause.
