Joao Passos

Joao Passos, Ph.D., is a Professor of Physiology at Mayo Clinic, holding dual appointments in the Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering and the Section of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. His research focuses on cellular senescence mechanisms, particularly mitochondrial dysfunction and telomere damage in aging and age-related diseases. He investigates how senescent cells contribute to age-related pathologies and develops therapies targeting these processes to extend healthspan.

Education: PhD in Molecular Biology from Newcastle University and MSc in Biology from University of Porto.

Research Interests: Senescence biomarkers, telomere dysfunction dynamics, mitochondrial regulation of senescence, and translational strategies to mitigate senescence-driven diseases. His lab uses super-resolution microscopy and reporter systems to study telomere damage, while exploring mitochondrial ROS production and SASP regulation.

Publications: Recent work includes SenNet guidelines for senescence detection, mitochondrial roles in SASP, and senescence in skeletal muscle aging. His research bridges basic biology with clinical applications in anti-aging therapies.