Rochelle Buffenstein

Rochelle Buffenstein is a Visiting Research Professor in the Biological Sciences department at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research focuses on the biology of aging and longevity, with particular emphasis on the unique physiological and genetic mechanisms of long-lived species like the naked mole-rat. She investigates stress resistance, proteostasis, and cancer resistance in these organisms, contributing to understanding of age-related diseases and evolutionary adaptations.

Her work integrates comparative biology, molecular biology, and physiology to uncover mechanisms underlying extreme longevity. Key topics include mitochondrial function, immune system adaptations, cardiovascular health in aging, and the role of specific proteins in cellular resilience. Buffenstein collaborates on projects involving proteomics, metabolomics, and genomic analyses to characterize biological processes in long-lived rodents.

Recent studies explore the naked mole-rat's resistance to oxidative damage, its unusual tumor immunity, and its unique cardiac and metabolic adaptations. She has pioneered the use of these animals as models for studying healthy aging, publishing extensively on their exceptional stress tolerance and maintenance of organ function over decades. Her research has implications for developing interventions targeting age-related pathologies.