In a groundbreaking advancement for aging and longevity science, The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies is poised to lead the nation with an unprecedented federal grant valued at up to $38 million. This funding has been allocated by The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a pioneering arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, marking a transformative moment in the clinical study of healthy longevity. The Barshop Institute, part of UT Health San Antonio, will spearhead the Validation and Intervention Testing for Aging, Longevity and Healthspan (VITAL-H) trial—the first large-scale investigation designed to evaluate the potential of repurposing FDA-approved medications to delay the onset of age-related functional decline in a generally healthy, middle-aged population.
This novel approach centers on intervening during a pivotal period of life, specifically targeting adults between the ages of 60 to 65, a demographic window where functional decline begins yet the overall disease burden remains relatively low. The VITAL-H trial is integrated within ARPA-H’s Proactive Solutions for Prolonging Resilience (PROSPR) program. PROSPR is dedicated to identifying therapeutics that challenge the conventional wisdom around aging—traditionally considered an inevitable slide towards disability—by exploring whether midlife interventions can preserve cognitive, physical, and psychological capabilities integral to quality of life.
Central to the VITAL-H clinical study is the evaluation of three FDA-approved medications: rapamycin, dapagliflozin, and semaglutide. These drugs were strategically selected due to their diverse mechanisms of action, promising preclinical and early human trial data, and well-established safety profiles that support long-term use in healthy populations. Rapamycin, originally used as an immunosuppressant, has shown potential in modulating cellular pathways linked to aging and longevity. Dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, has demonstrated cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects beyond its utility in diabetes care. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is associated with improved metabolic health and reduced inflammation. Together, these drugs offer a multifaceted strategy to alter the biological trajectory of aging.
The scientific premise underpinning the VITAL-H trial is the concept of Intrinsic Capacity: a holistic measure of an individual’s physical and mental function encompassing cognition, mobility, vitality, sensory abilities, and psychological health. The trial leverages advanced wearable technology to continuously monitor these domains, providing real-time, high-resolution data on functional status that transcends traditional clinic-based assessments. This methodology enables the detection of subtle yet meaningful changes in health span—delays in functional decline that could translate into prolonged independence and diminished healthcare burdens.
Elena Volpi, MD, PhD, director of the Barshop Institute and an esteemed leader in aging research, emphasizes the societal and healthcare implications of extending health span. While life expectancy has increased significantly worldwide over the past five decades, the onset of age-related diseases and disabilities has not correspondingly shifted. This discrepancy results in longer periods of morbidity, rising caregiver demands, and escalating healthcare costs. The VITAL-H trial endeavors to shift this paradigm by proving that early intervention with existing pharmacotherapies can preserve function and enhance resilience before the emergence of chronic diseases.
One of the innovative aspects of this trial is its design to overcome limitations that have hindered previous aging studies. Historically, clinical trials addressing aging have focused primarily on treatment after disease onset, utilized small sample sizes, and relied on narrowly defined clinical endpoints that lacked sensitivity or scalability. The VITAL-H trial boldly reframes aging as a modifiable trajectory rather than a fixed endpoint, employing endpoints capable of capturing meaningful functional improvements within realistic, relatively brief timeframes suitable for clinical validation and regulatory scrutiny.
In addition to its scientific rigor, the trial’s geographic execution is thoughtfully planned to reflect the future demographic composition of the United States. Participants will be recruited from South Texas, a region with a unique demographic makeup that serves as a microcosm of the shifting national population landscape. This approach ensures that findings will be highly relevant and generalizable, fostering population-wide impact and guiding future public health strategies.
The Barshop Institute’s leadership in this endeavor is the result of decades of foundational research into the biology of aging. Their multidisciplinary team has developed a robust translational model that bridges basic science discoveries with clinical applications. The VITAL-H trial represents a milestone, transforming the Institute from a world-class research entity into a national clinical epicenter for aging interventions, capable of generating impactful data that will influence medical practice and health policy on a broad scale.
Moreover, the trial exemplifies a collaborative network model, involving multiple regional partners including the San Antonio Geriatric Research, Clinical and Research Center (GRECC), South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), Texas Diabetes Institute (TDI), West San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB), and the UT Health San Antonio mobile clinical research clinic. This network facilitates comprehensive participant engagement, community integration, and broad accessibility, crucial elements for the trial’s success and future scalability.
This initiative not only holds promise for transforming aging science but also embodies a strategic shift in biomedical research funding and priorities. ARPA-H’s investment in the VITAL-H trial illustrates a commitment to disruptive innovation aimed at tackling some of the most difficult and costly health challenges of our time. The study’s success could serve as a regulatory blueprint for preventative interventions targeting aging as a modifiable risk factor, setting new standards for clinical research and drug development.
In summary, the VITAL-H clinical trial led by the Barshop Institute is a paradigm-shifting project that integrates cutting-edge pharmacology, advanced biometrics, and population-tailored recruitment to confront age-related functional decline head on. With the potential to extend not only lifespan but, more importantly, health span, this research embodies a hopeful future where aging becomes an opportunity for resilience, sustained vitality, and enhanced quality of life for millions.
Subject of Research:
Healthy longevity, aging intervention, repurposing of FDA-approved drugs, clinical trial methodologies in aging science, Intrinsic Capacity evaluation, functional decline prevention.
Article Title:
UT Health San Antonio’s Barshop Institute Launches National Clinical Trial to Redefine Healthy Aging Through Repurposed FDA-Approved Medications
News Publication Date:
February 24, 2026
Web References:
https://www.utsa.edu/
https://barshopinstitute.uthscsa.edu/
https://arpa-h.gov/
https://utha-h.gov/news-and-events/research-teams-add-more-healthy-years-americans-lives-they-age
Keywords:
Gerontology, Aging populations, Life span, Clinical studies, Drug studies, Clinical trials
