# Aging & Fibrosis ## expand\_more ### HSCI has the critical mass of expertise needed to tackle major questions that transcend individual disorders. Our scientists study fibrosis and aging in collaborations that cross traditional boundaries, as insights in these key areas have applications across almost all of human disease. ## Fibrosis Fibrotic diseases involve scarring in many different tissues in the body, caused by chronic inflammation. Scarring impairs the function of tissues and ultimately leads to organ failure. But while fibrotic diseases are common, there are very few treatments available. HSCI scientists in the [Harvard Fibrosis Network](/harvard-fibrosis-network) look for commonalities across fibrotic diseases, sharing their expertise in many different organs and biological processes. This HSCI network partners with groups such as Bristol- Myers Squibb and Boehringer Ingelheim, bringing academic, clinical, and pharmaceutical research practice to bear on studies of fibrosis of the kidney, lung, heart, liver, and other organs. [### Joseph V. Bonventre, M.D., Ph.D. ](/people/joseph-v-bonventre-md-phd)Brigham and Women's Hospital Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Massachusetts General Hospital ![Joseph Bonventre photo credit University of Washington](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/bonventre_joseph_uw_2020.jpg?itok=9X_aVCmy) [### Ruth Franklin, PhD ](/people/ruth-franklin-phd)Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Harvard Medical School ![Ruth Franklin headshot image](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/franklin_ruth_400px.png?itok=B35z9epQ) [### George F. Murphy, M.D. ](/people/george-f-murphy-md)Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital ![George F. Murphy, HSCI Skin Program](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/murphy_george_hsci_2018.jpg?itok=tyQ_XkT4) [### Jayaraj Rajagopal, MD ](/people/jayaraj-rajagopal-md)Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School ![Jayaraj Rajagopal](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/rajagopal_jayaraj.gif?itok=WFvln4n7) [ See More HSCI Researchers arrow\_circle\_right ](/people) ## Aging Why do we lose the ability to repair and regenerate over time? Why do some parts of our bodies age more slowly than others? By comparing repair processes in young and old animals, across organ systems, HSCI researchers have identified circulating factors that can restore function to damaged tissue. These findings have sparked a new generation of cross-sector research that has implications for many conditions associated with aging. By analyzing gene expression in tens of thousands of cells, HSCI scientists have also identified aging patterns in every cell type of the brain, such as the specialized endothelial cells that line blood vessels. The resulting knowledge base is transformative for the field of aging research, well beyond the HSCI network. [### Suneet Agarwal, MD, PhD ](/people/suneet-agarwal-md-phd)Boston Children's Hospital Dana Farber Cancer Institute ![Suneet Agarwal.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/agarwal_suneet_dfci_web.png?itok=lXlwymYL) [### Susan Bonner-Weir, Ph.D. ](/people/susan-bonner-weir-phd)Joslin Diabetes Center Harvard Medical School ![Susan Bonner-Weir, Joslin Diabetes Center](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/bonner-weir_susan_jdc_2020.png?itok=RORT5MPp) [### David Breault, M.D., Ph.D. ](/people/david-breault-md-phd)Boston Children's Hospital ![2.1.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/2.1.jpg?itok=lqgwJ5_q) [### Zhixun Dou, Ph.D. ](/people/zhixun-dou-phd)Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School ![Headshot of Zhixun Dou](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Zhixun%20Dou.png?itok=aKzIl332) [### Albert Edge, PhD ](/people/albert-edge-phd)Massachusetts Eye and Ear ![Albert Edge in his lab in 2019](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/edge_albert_hsci_2018.jpg?itok=LB-FZhCS) [### Yick W. Fong, Ph.D. ](/people/yick-w-fong-phd)Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School ![Yick Fong, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/fong_yick_credit_brigham_regenerative_medicine_center.jpg?itok=W1zpYinx) [### Markus Frank, M.D. ](/people/markus-frank-md)Boston Children's Hospital Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School ![Markus H. Frank, HSCI Skin Program](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/frank_markus_hsci_2018.jpg?itok=pNhDElYW) [### Ole Isacson, M.D. ](/people/ole-isacson-md)McLean Hospital Harvard Medical School ![Ole Isacson photo credit McLean Hospital](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/isacson_ole_mclean_2020.jpg?itok=ca1KcFXA) [### Richard Lee, M.D. ](/people/richard-lee-md)Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Brigham and Women's Hospital ![Richard T. Lee, Harvard University](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/lee_richard_t_hscrb_2018.jpg?itok=KNu9cTdt) [### George F. Murphy, M.D. ](/people/george-f-murphy-md)Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital ![George F. Murphy, HSCI Skin Program](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/murphy_george_hsci_2018.jpg?itok=tyQ_XkT4) [### Amar Sahay, Ph.D. ](/people/amar-sahay-phd)Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard ![Amar Sahay headshot image](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/sahay_amar.jpg?itok=q9RvWgXQ) [### Vijay G. Sankaran, M.D., Ph.D. ](/people/vijay-g-sankaran-md-phd)Boston Children's Hospital Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Harvard Medical School ![Vijay Sankaran headshot 2020](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/vs_cropped.jpg?itok=cIUuXX0l) [### Frank J. Slack, Ph.D. ](/people/frank-j-slack-phd)Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ![slack_frank.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/slack_frank.jpg?itok=a9G22dX8) [### Amy Wagers, Ph.D. ](/people/amy-wagers-phd)Chair, Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Senior Investigator, Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center ![Headshot, Amy Wagers](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/wagers_amy_harard_2018_01_1.jpg?itok=ovF9IE5U) [### Tracy Young-Pearse, Ph.D. ](/people/tracy-young-pearse-phd)Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School ![Tracy Young-Pearse, photo credit Brigham and Women's Hospital](/sites/g/files/omnuum10026/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/hsci/files/young-pearse_tracy_brigham_research_2019.jpeg?itok=tzYdNgnW) [ See more HSCI researchers arrow\_circle\_right ](/people)