Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD): study design and rationale for a prospective, parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of rapamycin in healthy middle-aged dogs from the Dog Aging Project

• Published in: GeroScience 2025-02
• Main Authors: Coleman, Amanda E, Creevy, Kate E, Anderson, Rozalyn, Reed, May J, Fajt, Virginia R, Aicher, Kathleen M, Atiee, Genna, Barnett, Brian G, Baumwart, Ryan D, Boudreau, Beth, Cunningham, Suzanne M, Dunbar, Matthew D, Ditzler, Bobbie, Ferguson, Anna M, Forsyth, Kiersten K, Gambino, Anya N, Gordon, Sonya G, Hammond, Hillary K, Holland, Sydney N, Iannaccone, Mary K, Illing, Kate, Kadotani, Saki, Knowles, Shelby A, MacLean, Evan L, Maran, Brian A, Markovic, Lauren E, McGrath, Stephanie, Melvin, Rachel L, Mueller, Mikaela S, Nelson, O Lynne, Olby, Natasha J, Pancotto, Theresa E, Parsley, Elizabeth, Potter, Brianna M, Prescott, Jena O, Saunders, Ashley B, Sawyer, Holly M, Scansen, Brian A, Schmid, Sarah M, Smith, Courtney C, Tjostheim, Sonja S, Tolbert, M Katherine, Tropf, Melissa A, Visser, Lance C, Ward, Jessica L, Wesselowski, Sonya R, Windsor, Rebecca C, Yang, Vicky K, Ruple, Audrey, Promislow, Daniel E L, Kaeberlein, Matt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2509-2723; 2509-2723
• DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01484-7

Companion dogs are a powerful model for aging research given their morphologic and genetic variability, risk for age-related disease, and habitation of the human environment. In addition, the shorter life expectancy of dogs compared to human beings provides a unique opportunity for an accelerated timeline to test interventions that might extend healthy lifespan. The Test of Rapamycin In Aging Dogs (TRIAD) randomized clinical trial is a parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial that will test the ability of rapamycin to prolong lifespan and improve several healthspan metrics in healthy, middle-aged dogs recruited from Dog Aging Project participants. Here, we describe the rationale, design, and goals of the TRIAD randomized clinical trial, the first rigorous test of a pharmacologic intervention against biological aging with lifespan and healthspan metrics as endpoints to be performed outside of the laboratory in any species.