Moments in TIME: Fellows Shaping the Future of Aging - Margo Weber
When Margo Weber learned about the exceptional lifespan and resilience of bats, she was hooked. Her research in Tanya Lama’s Lab at Smith College, focuses on how the little brown bat maintains proteostasis—a process crucial for cellular stability—as a way to naturally slow down aging. By studying these unique mechanisms, Margo hopes to uncover insights that could one day translate to human health. From producing groundbreaking data on bat biology to tackling the unique challenges of working with non-typical model organisms, Margo’s journey is driven by curiosity, resilience, and a desire to transform our understanding of aging. As a TIME Fellow, she has not only broadened her horizons but also found a supportive community of like-minded scientists. Now, as she prepares to continue her research with a PhD in Dublin, Margo reflects on the discoveries, challenges, and breakthroughs that have shaped her work.
Courtney: Hi Margo! Your research is absolutely fascinating. Bats are such an unconventional model system in aging biology—what first drew you into this work?
Margo: All I can say is…bats! When I learned of the exceptional longevity (antioxidant and cancer-resistance mechanisms) of these small-bodied mammals, I developed an obsession with discovering why bats have evaded early or timely deaths and seem to stay healthy throughout their lives; how they manage free radicals from energetically-taxing powered flight ALONE is incredible. With how little we truly understand about bats, there is a mountain of knowledge to unearth, and to me that is thrilling.
Courtney: That passion really shines through! So, tell me more—what exactly are you exploring with these amazing creatures?
Margo: I investigate how long-lived bats have naturally slowed their aging, and through differential gene expression, have discovered that, for the little brown bat (pictured), this is primarily through maintaining proteostasis. This foundational work helps us understand key molecular mechanisms behind some bats’s extreme lifespan, leading to development of therapeutic targets for molecular mechanisms that have evolved naturally in my study model.
Courtney: Bats might not be the first thing people think of when it comes to aging research, but that makes it even more intriguing. What do you hope your work will ultimately achieve?
Margo: My hope is that by understanding how bats maintain proteostasis, we can find ways to stabilize these processes in humans too. Notoriously, E3 ligases are attractive therapeutic candidates and, coincidentally, they are key regulators of protein stability and function, particularly within autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways. By investigating which proteins and processes are upregulated in long-lived bats, my research provides foundation work towards identifying which E3 ligases can be used to stabilize these proteins and promote healthy aging by slowing proteostasis-destabilizing processes at the cellular level that bats have evolved naturally.
Courtney: That’s an exciting possibility. Your journey in this field has been impressive—what milestones are you most proud of?
Margo: After 6 months of troubleshooting, I finally produced successful, publication quality western blots. Unsurprisingly, non-model organisms have proven to be tricky to work with, and after lots of meticulous work I now have wet-lab validation for ym transcriptomics. Additionally, I am the very first person to complete a MS in less than 2 years at Smith College, and gave my very first conference talk at the North American Society for Bat Research!
Courtney: I have to ask—what’s next for you and your bat research?
Margo: I’ll be heading to Dublin, Ireland, to start a PhD with Emma Teeling, continuing my work on bats and aging.
Courtney: That sounds like a fantastic opportunity! But it hasn’t all been easy, I’m sure. What challenges have you faced along the way?
Margo: I joined my current lab when it was little more than a concept. It was initially difficult to gain momentum, curate a thoughtful research question and, most challenging of all, develop the best path forward to answer my research question all while stocking a brand new lab with a brand new PI. Seeking guidance from many tenured professors and collaborators, we managed to build an operational lab in under one year!
Courtney: That must have been such a rewarding experience. How has being part of the TIME Fellowship shaped your journey?
Margo: The TIME Fellowship has been a game-changer. It’s provided me with funding for unrestricted exploration, a network of pioneering geroscientists, and a lifelong mentor who offers invaluable insights beyond my small academic circle.
The TIME Fellowship community expanded the scope of aging research. I have learned about furthering research in aging biology from drug design with AI modeling to political advocacy for developing FDA approved therapies – the TIME community has broadened my horizons and helped me discover new ways to push the limits of the biosciences.
