Barshop Institute Wins $38M for Longevity
The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio has secured up to $38 million in federal funding. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded the contract. This milestone positions UT San Antonio as a national leader in aging and healthy longevity science.
What Is the ARPA-H Award?
ARPA-H announced the contract to the Barshop Institute on February 24, 2026. The funding supports the first-ever nationwide clinical study in healthy longevity. It cements the institute’s status as the country’s leading authority in longevity research. Furthermore, it reflects decades of pioneering biomedical science built at UT San Antonio.
The contract falls under ARPA-H’s Proactive Solutions for Prolonging Resilience (PROSPR) program. PROSPR focuses on identifying therapeutics that challenge the idea that aging must lead to disability. Andrew Brack, PhD, ARPA-H program manager and creator of PROSPR, explains the goal clearly. “VITAL-H will help show whether we can preserve everyday abilities during a critical window of midlife aging,” he said.
The VITAL-H Trial Explained
The Barshop Institute will lead the Validation and Intervention Testing for Aging, Longevity and Healthspan (VITAL-H) trial. This study evaluates whether FDA-approved medications can delay age-related decline. Specifically, it targets generally healthy middle-aged adults between ages 60 and 65.
Unlike previous aging trials, VITAL-H begins earlier in the life course. Researchers designed it to detect meaningful functional changes within practical timeframes. Additionally, it uses wearable technologies to monitor participants continuously. This approach improves data sensitivity and generalizability.
A New Framework for Aging Research
Traditional clinical trials on aging typically wait until disease onset. VITAL-H takes a different approach. It reframes aging as a modifiable functional trajectory rather than an unavoidable slide into illness. The study also provides the first large-scale validation of Intrinsic Capacity, a concept that measures a person’s physical and mental capabilities. Researchers evaluate cognition, mobility, psychological health, vitality, and sensory function together.
Elena Volpi, MD, PhD, director of the Barshop Institute, leads the effort. “Our population is living longer but with declining function,” she noted. “No FDA-approved interventions currently exist to delay the onset of age-related functional decline in otherwise healthy adults.” Consequently, this trial aims to change that reality.
Medications Under Study
Three FDA-Approved Drugs in Focus
The VITAL-H trial studies three specific medications. Each one offers a distinct mechanism of action. All three are orally administered and carry favorable safety profiles at low doses. These qualities make them suitable for long-term use in healthy populations.
- Rapamycin – known for its role in cellular aging pathways
- Dapagliflozin – a metabolic regulator with emerging longevity data
- Semaglutide – widely used for metabolic health, now explored for healthspan benefits
Strong preclinical evidence, early human data, and post-marketing safety experience support each drug’s potential. Moreover, all three show promise in positively affecting age-related decline in quality of life.
Why South Texas?
A Region That Mirrors America’s Future
Researchers will recruit participants from South Texas. This region has a demographic makeup that closely mirrors the projected U.S. population in coming decades. As a result, trial findings will be relevant to the nation’s future aging population.
South Texas also offers access to a diverse, historically underrepresented community. Including such populations makes the research both equitable and scientifically robust.
Partner Locations and Collaborators
A City-Wide Research Network
While the Barshop Institute anchors the study, multiple partners across San Antonio will contribute. These collaborators expand the trial’s reach and strengthen its infrastructure.
Partner locations include:
- San Antonio Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS)
- Texas Diabetes Institute (TDI)
- West San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB)
- UT Health San Antonio Mobile Clinical Research Clinic
Together, these sites ensure broad access to participants across the city.
What This Means for Aging Science
Decades of Research Come to Life
For the Barshop Institute, this award is not a starting point. Instead, it is the culmination of more than 50 years of aging research. “That foundational science has matured into a national clinical research effort led from San Antonio,” said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, senior executive vice president for research and innovation at UT San Antonio.
A Scalable Model for the Future
VITAL-H establishes a regulatory-grade framework for preventive interventions in aging. Therefore, future clinical development across the country can draw on its findings. The trial also creates tools that researchers can use to better target the underlying causes of age-related disease.
Volpi summarized the mission best: “This work is advancing science that can help people live not just longer lives, but healthier ones in the decades ahead.”
