Ucar Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
As the global population lives longer than ever before, we are witnessing a significant demographic shift. By 2050, it’s projected that 20% of the world’s people will be over the age of 65, effectively doubling the current proportion. In the United States alone, the number of older adults is expected to increase by 40%, from 58 million to 82 million. A healthy immune system is essential for a long and healthy life, as it defends against diseases and supports overall well-being, however our immune system becomes less protective as we age.
This shift in population and declining immune health with age presents major challenges, particularly in healthcare, as older adults are more susceptible to complex diseases and often benefit less from existing treatments like vaccines due to a decline in immune health. However, aging is unique to each individual; people age differently, and there’s no single way to characterize this process. Recognizing these challenges, the United Nations has declared 2021–2030 the Decade of Healthy Ageing, focusing on providing personalized care and health services that meet older people’s needs.
Our Mission: Our laboratory is dedicated to understanding the differences in how people’s immune systems age. By uncovering this diversity, we aim to develop better vaccination and treatment strategies tailored to older adults. Our ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes and extend the healthy years of life—known as healthspan—for the aging population.
Our Approach: We use a comprehensive method called systems immunology, which combines functional immunology with advanced techniques in single-cell profiling and computational biology. This allows us to analyze the immune system in unprecedented detail, leading to more accurate insights and potential breakthroughs.