Sofiya Milman

Sofiya Milman, M.D., M.S., is a Professor in the Departments of Medicine (Endocrinology) and Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She serves as Interim Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine and Director of Human Longevity Studies at Einstein’s Institute for Aging Research. Her research focuses on genomic mechanisms underlying healthy aging, particularly in centenarian populations. Dr. Milman’s work emphasizes the role of hormonal pathways, especially the somatotropic axis involving IGF-1, in regulating longevity and age-related diseases. Her studies demonstrate that lower IGF-1 levels correlate with extended survival and cognitive health in individuals with exceptional longevity.

Research interests include translational studies on longevity genes, protective endocrine parameters, and interventions to combat age-related diseases. Her work integrates genetic data with phenotypic information from longevity families to uncover molecular mechanisms driving healthspan extension.

Key findings include the antagonistic pleiotropy of IGF-1, where lower IGF-1 levels may protect against cardiovascular disease and diabetes while promoting longevity. Dr. Milman’s articles span topics like IGF binding proteins’ mortality prediction, proteomic changes across lifespan, and genetic insights into extreme longevity.

Grants supporting her research include NIH grants (R01 AG057909, R01 AG044829) focused on aging mechanisms. She collaborates widely, with co-authors such as Nir Barzilai and Aviv Bergman. Her lab is part of the Institute for Aging Research, dedicated to translating basic discoveries into clinical interventions for healthy aging.