Dogs Wanted for The Dog Aging Project’s TRIAD Program

We all know that the hardest thing about loving dogs is that their lives are too short.

But what if there were a way to help our doggos live longer, healthier lives?

Well, there’s a group researching that very problem: it’s called the Dog Aging Project.

They have a number of lines of scientific inquiry, and they invite “ALL dogs — young and old, large and small, mixed breed and purebred, healthy and those with chronic illness — from all fifty US states” to participate.

They have one program in particular that is actively recruiting dogs in New York City and environs: the Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs, or TRIAD.

Rapamycin

What is rapamycin?  It’s an FDA-approved prescription drug that works as an immunosuppressant and an anti-cancer agent. It was originally discovered in soil samples from Rapa Nui, the place most of you know as Easter Island.  Rapamycin is also known by the generic name sirolimus; brand names include Rapamune and Fyarro.

It works primarily by inhibiting something called mTOR , or “mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin.” The mTOR pathway regulates cell growth, cell proliferation, and metabolism. In other words, blocking this pathway slows cellular processes; for that reason, it has gotten a lot of interest for its anti-aging effects. Rapamycin has been shown to extend lifespan and health in yeast, worms, flies, and mice.

TRIAD

TRIAD is a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Scientists are working to see if the drug improves heart health and mobility, prolongs cognitive function, and increases lifespan in dogs.

The Dog Aging Project has been enrolling dogs in TRIAD since 2021. Over the last few years, they’ve been adding new clinical trial sites throughout the United States. They currently have 20 sites, including one in Brooklyn, and are looking to add a few more in 2026.  

Casey

Researchers hope to finish enrollment by the end of 2026, which means TRIAD would conclude by 2029 (since each dog participates for three years).

So far, 235 dogs have been enrolled. More than 42 dogs have completed their three-year participation. The goal is to enroll 580 dogs in total.

By participating in a study such as TRIAD, dogs may not get direct benefit (depending on whether they are on the active arm and if rapamycin provides benefit), but the real benefits are in helping advance knowledge for other wonderful animals, and of course the additional veterinary monitoring they will receive while enrolled in the trial.

Doctor Justin Carlson

If you’re a New Yorker and want to participate in TRIAD, your clinical trial site will be The Animal Cardiology Center (TACC) in Brooklyn with Dr. Justin Carlson.

Dr. Carlson received his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his internship here in the Big Apple.

He later completed his cardiology residency at Texas A&M University in 2013. (Part of the Dog Aging Project’s core leadership is associated with Texas A&M.) He’s been a board-certified cardiologist practicing in New York ever since

His resume includes peer-reviewed publications; invitations for speaking at national conferences; positions on the cardiology certifying exam committee; and acting investigator for multiple clinical trials.   

His early experiences with clinical trials while a resident at Texas A&M impressed upon him the extreme importance of supporting clinical research in veterinary medicine. Clinical trials are very time consuming and are often difficult to complete outside of academic institutions.

Upon founding The Animal Cardiology Center, Dr. Carlson has made it a priority to dedicate time and resources to participating in clinical trials like TRIAD. When he and I spoke in early December he told me he was currently involved in four separate trials, allowing him to further veterinary medicine while offering timely, advanced treatments to his patients.

He also told me most trials take place in academia and very frequently have to answer to higher authorities such as private companies that fund the research. Dr. Carlson said TRIAD is independent and publicly funded by the National Institute on Aging. It was designed to take place in veterinary clinics around the country.

Dr. Justin Carlson

Getting Involved

If you are interested in TRIAD and working with Dr. Carlson and The Dog Aging Project, make sure you can meet the following requirements.

Participating dogs must:

-Be at least seven years old
-Be between 44 and 120 pounds
-Be cooperative during vet visits
-Be spayed or neutered
-Meet specific health and behavioral criteria

And owners are required to:

-Provide veterinary electronic medical records
-Visit a clinical site every six months
-Participate for a total of three years
-Keep your dog on a consistent heartworm preventive
-Keep your dog up-to-date on vaccines
-Administer the study medication weekly
-Complete all surveys and activities

The Animal Cardiology Center in DUMBO

Once the TRIAD team has determined your dog meets all of the initial health and eligibility criteria, they will schedule you for a screening exam at The Animal Cardiology Center, which is located in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

During the screening exam, Dr. Carlson will give your dog a thorough physical, including blood work and an echo cardiogram. He will look for any underlying problems that would preclude your dog from participating in TRIAD. In particular he’ll be looking for any hard- to- detect heart disease. The Dog Aging Project requires that dogs be healthy to enroll in the clinical trial.

The initial exam is about one-to-two hours long. The TRIAD team will review the exam results with Dr. Carlson and a final enrollment decision will be made. If your dog passes the screening exam, you can then officially enroll in the clinical trial. Your follow up appointments will be scheduled by the Dog Aging Project with Dr. Carlson for the course of the trial.

Dr. Carlson told me that while there have been several dogs that have traveled from many states away for evaluation for the TRIAD study at The Animal Cardiology Center, there have been very few New York City dogs evaluated for participation.  Knowing that New Yorkers are avid dog lovers and amazing dog parents, we knew that the reason could only be lack of awareness of this amazing opportunity for our New York City pups. 

To learn more or find out if your dog meets initial eligibility requirements, visit the Dog Aging Project, TRIAD page and complete the questionnaire.