Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development

Rodney J. Folz, MD, Ph.D.

Dr. Folz's research interests in aging are centered around an examination of the contribution oxidative stress plays in the aging process. This hypothesis proposes that cellular senescence is the result of progressive and irreversible accrual of molecular oxidative damage. Oxidative stress can be inflicted in a highly compartmentalized fashion. His laboratory focuses on the extracellular compartments in trying to understand the contribution extracellular oxidative stress plays and how extracellular antioxidant defenses can prevent the normal or premature aging process. Extracellular superoxide dismutase is the major extracellular antioxidant enzyme. Molecular biology techniques are being utilized to critically test the hypothesis that EC-SOD can prevent extracellular oxidative injury thus leading to an attenuation of the process of cellular senescence.