Steve Horvath, Ph.D., Sc.D.

Professor, Geriatrics

SHorvath@mednet.ucla.edu

Director, Aging Biology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Research Areas

Aging & Healthspan Genetics & Genomics

Steve Horvath, Ph.D., Sc.D., develops epigenetic clocks and other biomarkers of aging that measure biological age in humans and other animals. He uses these tools to uncover what drives aging and to test interventions that may slow or reverse it, with the goal of extending healthy human lifespan.

Horvath's research focuses on turning measurements of biological age into tools that can guide and speed up the testing of anti-aging therapies. His best-known contributions are the pan-tissue epigenetic clock (2013), which estimates the age of most human tissues and cell types from DNA methylation, and the clocks GrimAge and PhenoAge, which predict mortality and age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. He also led the development of a DNA methylation array for mammals, which made it possible to build universal clocks that can be applied across mammalian species.

His epigenetic clocks are now widely used as endpoints in human intervention studies, including a trial of thymus regeneration and the DO-HEALTH trial of vitamin D, omega-3 and exercise in older adults. His current research has two aims: to distinguish DNA methylation changes that cause aging from those that merely reflect it; and to identify interventions that rejuvenate mammalian cells, moving beyond measuring biological age toward developing therapies that could reverse aspects of aging.

Building causal epigenetic clocks that track DNAShort for deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA is a double-stranded molecule that serves as the genetic blueprint for living organisms. Composed of four chemical bases, DNA encodes the instructions necessary for protein synthesis and governs the development, function, and inheritance of traits in an organism. DNAShort for deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA is a double-stranded molecule that serves as the genetic blueprint for living organisms. Composed of four chemical bases, DNA encodes the instructions necessary for protein synthesis and governs the development, function, and inheritance of traits in an organism. methylationA natural biochemical process of modifying certain structures within DNA that plays crucial roles during development and differentiation. Dysregulation of this process is linked to diseases like cancer, loss-of-imprinting syndromes and neurological disorders. Additionally, DNA methylation patterns vary across cells, tissues and organisms, with changes occurring as we age.methylationA natural biochemical process of modifying certain structures within DNA that plays crucial roles during development and differentiation. Dysregulation of this process is linked to diseases like cancer, loss-of-imprinting syndromes and neurological disorders. Additionally, DNA methylation patterns vary across cells, tissues and organisms, with changes occurring as we age. changes that drive aging rather than those that only correlate with it
Using epigenetic editing to test whether resetting the epigenomeThe network of chemical compounds surrounding DNA that can influence gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Changes in the epigenome can be influenced by the environment and can play a role in a person's health and disease.epigenomeThe network of chemical compounds surrounding DNA that can influence gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Changes in the epigenome can be influenced by the environment and can play a role in a person's health and disease. at select locations can rejuvenate human cells
Measuring how drugs affect biological age in human trials and other mammals
Identifying highly reproducible methods for measuring DNA methylation so epigenetic clocks can meet clinical standards and serve as surrogate endpoints in trials
Advancing comparative biology research through Phase 2 of the Mammalian Methylation Consortium