TIME Study

Number of visits: 

• Phone screening  
• Screening/Enrollment Visit  
• Baseline Study Visit  
• 4 High Frequency* Study Visits 
• 7 Low Frequency** Study Visits 
• 2 Challenge Day Visits 
  • 1 Oral Glucose Tolerance Test 
  • 1 Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test 

 *High Frequency meaning multiple measurements will be taken across a ~12hr visit (Meals Provided) 

**Low Frequency meaning multiple measurements will be taken across a ~1hr visit 

 List of study procedures: 

• Medical history 
• Vital signs 
• Continuous Glucose Monitor Placement 
• Blood samples 
• Buccal Swab 
• Saliva Collection (for whole genome sequencing) 
• Bioimpedance 
• Stool collection 
• Vaginal Swab 
• Various Questionnaires and Surveys 
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test 
• Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test 

You may be eligible if you…  

• Are at least 55 years old  
• Own a smartphone 
• Live in the Pacific or Mountain Time Zones 
• Can attend in-person visits in Novato, CA 
• Have stable health and medication use 
• Are willing to continuously wear all provided study wearable devices and permit researcher access to all data 

You might not be eligible if you… 

• Planned travel during the main 11-week study period necessitating missing multiple weekly visits or crossing more than two time zones 
• Are unable to walk 
• Have been hospitalized overnight within 3 months of Screening Visit 
• Require assistance with any activity of daily living, excluding continence 
• Live in a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility 
• Work nights or shifts that make it not possible to maintain a consistent sleep-wake schedule during the study 
• Female participants must be post-menopausal  
• Musculoskeletal conditions that would prevent completion of the required exercise testing  
• Have clinical diagnosis of any chronic pulmonary disease that limits exercise capacity. 
• Cardiovascular disease, including, but not limited to congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, significant valvular disease, congenital heart disease, serious arrhythmia, pulmonary emboli, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease 
• Uncontrolled hypertension 
• Abnormal bleeding or coagulopathy  
• Anemia  
• Cancer 
• Significant weight change 
• Chronic antibiotic use 
• Sleep disorder 
• Blood donation in the last 3 months or plans for donation during the main 11-week study period.  
• More than 3 chronic conditions requiring medical management, regular use of more than 5 prescription medications. 
• Psychiatric disorders 
• Other disorders that may impact participation, as determined by a study clinician  

Dr. John Newman 

John Newman, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and an Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatrics at University of California San Francisco (UCSF). His career goal is to translate our expanding understanding of aging biology to improve the care and help maintain the independence of older adults. His research at the Buck Institute studies the molecular details of how diet and fasting regulate the genes and pathways that in turn control aging, focusing on the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate and how its molecular signaling activities involving epigenetics and inflammation regulate aging and memory in mice.  Dr. Newman is also a geriatrician at UCSF who cares for hospitalized older adults, focusing on preserving mobility and preventing delirium.

Dr. Brianna Stubbs  

Dr. Brianna Stubbs is Associate Director of the Clinical Research Core at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and is a world expert in exogenous ketone metabolism and its implications for performance, resilience and health-span. She completed her PhD in Metabolic Physiology at the University of Oxford, studying the metabolism and the application of exogenous ketone salts and esters. Whilst completing her studies, she competed on the British International Rowing Team, and was a two-time World Champion lightweight athlete. Brianna is currently Lead Translational Scientist in the Business Development Team at The Buck Institute for Research on Aging where she is focused on the translation of ketone body research into consumer products and drugs that target healthy aging.

James Yurkovich, PhD

Dr. James Yurkovich is the Chief Innovation Officer at Phenome Health and a Research Assistant Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Dr. Yurkovich holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology from the University of California San Diego. From there, he completed a Faculty Fellowship at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. He then transitioned into the biotech industry by joining the pharmaceutical company Biosplice Therapeutics (formerly Samumed) to build and lead a systems biology division focused on understanding the healthy functioning and aging of the human musculoskeletal system. At Phenome Health, James spearheads new opportunities—technologies, computational methods, and collaborations—that bridge the gap between the scientific and technological efforts. He helps lead the architecture and implementation of the Phenome Core cloud infrastructure and technology platform that supports the scientific discovery and return of results. He also leads efforts in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), bridging the gap between computer science and biology. His interdisciplinary background spans mechanistic modeling, machine learning, network analysis, and dynamical systems theory. James is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he also serves on the Industrial Advisory Committee. 

Brianna Stubbs, PhD

Dr. Brianna Stubbs is Associate Director of the Clinical Research Core at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and is a world expert in exogenous ketone metabolism and its implications for performance, resilience and health-span. She completed her PhD in Metabolic Physiology at the University of Oxford, studying the metabolism and the application of exogenous ketone salts and esters. Whilst completing her studies, she competed on the British International Rowing Team, and was a two-time World Champion lightweight athlete. Brianna is currently Lead Translational Scientist in the Business Development Team at The Buck Institute for Research on Aging where she is focused on the translation of ketone body research into consumer products and drugs that target healthy aging.