Buck Institute for Research on Aging

The Buck Institute is the nation’s first independent research facility focused solely on understanding the connection between aging and chronic disease in pursuit of the Mission to increase the healthy years of life.

At the Buck Institute, world-class scientists work in a uniquely collaborative environment to understand how normal aging contributes to the development of conditions specifically associated with getting older such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, cancer, stroke, osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, macular degeneration and glaucoma. Our interdisciplinary approach brings scientists from disparate fields together to develop diagnostic tests and treatments to prevent or delay these maladies.

The stakes have never been higher. While it’s true that people are living longer, those “extra” years are often marked by disability and pain. In addition to personal hardship, there is also a cost to society. The financial burden of treating the chronic diseases of aging is expected to rise steadily as Baby Boomers get older. There is an urgency to our mission.

Unlike traditional universities, which have departmental boundaries and large bureaucracies, the Buck Institute is designed for the free flow of information. Discoveries quickly result in new studies. Scientists studying breast cancer are collaborating with researchers examining aging and nutrition. Parkinson’s disease is being studied in three different model organisms. A unique inquiry into stem cells and aging is underway. It’s an exciting place for science that has the potential to change the way we live.