RESEARCH INTERESTS: Dr. Richardson's laboratory is a major contributor to understanding the role that gene expression plays in aging, showing for the first time that caloric restriction, a manipulation that retards aging, alters gene expression at the level of transcription, and that these changes in gene expression enhance the ability of animals to respond to stress. Dr. Richardson's group also develops novel, genetically modified mouse models to study how oxidative stress and damage contribute to aging and age-related diseases, such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and diabetes. A current research focus of the Richardson laboratory is to understand the role of rapamycin on the processes and mechanisms of aging and aging-related disease.