The brief

Analyst view

• 54,900+ dogs enrolled in longitudinal aging studies, world's largest canine health study.
• TRIAD: $7M NIH trial testing rapamycin in 580 dogs; one year dosing, two years follow-up.
• Test whether a lifespan-extension drug proven in mice extends lifespan in naturally aging mammals.

Technical approach

As reported

Design

Randomized double-blind trial

TRIAD randomizes middle-aged dogs to rapamycin or placebo for three years, measuring lifespan and healthspan markers.

Mechanism

mTOR inhibition

Rapamycin blocks mTOR, which controls cell growth. At low doses it extends lifespan in mice; dogs test it in naturally aging mammals.

Scale

Seven veterinary schools

Multi-site enrollment and follow-up distributes burden and ensures diverse dog breeds and owner populations.