Eyleen Jorgelina O'Rourke

Eyleen Jorgelina O'Rourke is an American Biologist working at the University of Virginia who has recently discovered possible anti-aging enzymes that could lead to healthier aging. Her and her team have done their research on worms which resulted in the discovery of genes and enzymes that could promote a healthier and longer life span in humans. Her findings have opened the science field up to new potential health advancements.
==Education==
O'Rourke is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States working as an associate professor of Biology and Cell Biology at the University of Virginia. She is currently interested in studying the topics of obesity and aging. O'Rourke attended Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Argentina, earning a Bachelors of Science and Master of Science in genetics. She then attended University of Buenos Aires for her PhD and then finally attended Harvard University for her Postdoctoral research. After finishing up her education, O'Rourke became a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School, then an instructor working as an independent scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, finally and currently working at University of Virginia as an associate professor of biology.
==Awards and Honors==
O'Rourke has also received a few awards throughout her years as biologist. She first received the NIH Pathway to Independence Award issued by the National Institution of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (National Institute of Health). This award provides up to 5 years of grant support containing a Mentored Phase and the Independent Research Phase. Following with a W.M. Keck Foundation Award in Medical Research issued by W. M. Keck Foundation and the PEW Biomedical Scholar issued by PEW Charitable Trust. She then received the Fellow of the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) for her recent studies. And finally the Jeffress Trust Award in Interdisciplinary Research.
==Recent discoveries==
===Genes That Cause Obesity===
O'Rourke and her team have discovered genes that are associated with weight gain and obesity. Where those who have high expression of these specific genes are seen to be obese than compared to those who are healthy weight. Her and her team began their study on C. Elegan worms which were seen to become obese when fed higher amounts of sugar. They found 14 genes are related to causing obesity and 3 genes that prevented obesity, thus increasing a longer life span.
===Anti-Aging Approach===
O'Rourke and her team at University of Virginia have recently identified a potential mechanism that promotes healthy aging and longevity by reducing glycerol and glyceraldehyde. They began their study on C. elegan worms which share more than 70% of our genes, making them ideal test subjects.
They strongly believed that the key to longevity was autophagy which is a process where cells remove or repair damaged parts of the cell, but realized that autophagy wasn't necessarily required for the health and lifespan.
O'Rourke and her team found a specific gene, adh-1 that promotes an anti-aging response.
When this gene is expressed, it produces enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase which prevents glycerol and glyceraldehydes toxic effects.
By doing so in their study on C. elegan worms, they were able to improve the health and lifespan of the worms by 50% without the use of autophagy.
With these findings, they wanted to see if this concept would also apply to mammals which they found increased levels of anti aging enzymes.
Category:American biologists
Category:University of Virginia alumni
Category:American people