Vet Med Faces of Research: Dr. Timothy Snider
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Timothy Snider, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP, has spent the last 22 years researching everything from infectious diseases to aging related diseases. The professor of veterinary pathology at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine currently focuses on the pathology of aging and of age-related diseases such as cancer.
“As a veterinarian, I do much of that research with animal models,” said Snider. “In particular, my aging investigations are primarily with mice and to some extent with rats. Everything my collaborators and I are doing is very translational in the sense that it is intended to help human beings live longer and even more importantly, live better lives into their older years.”
Dr. Snider’s work within the field of aging pathology has the potential to improve the understanding of how humans age.
“The thing that excites me the most about my research is that I see the animal studies that we’re conducting and how that has an immediate potential to give us an improved understanding of how humans age,” said Snider. “We see some of these experimental therapeutics, experimental dietary modifications and so forth, extend the life span of animal models and we know that those proven recommendations are going to help human health and help humans age better as well.
“The one thing I would tell people about my research is that I do a lot of research with animals such as mice. When mice turn 2 or 3 years of age, that’s the equivalent of you and me turning 70 or 80. Just to see the accumulated changes in their organs and tissues when they are a 2- or 3-year-old animal, gives me insights into what happens to human beings as they turn 70, 80, and 90.”
Snider doesn’t have a conventional research lab. He lends support to other collaborative investigators by analyzing animal model tissue samples from their studies.
“I look at the effect and outcomes of other investigators’ research,” he said. “A good day for my research activities is when I become what’s called unblinded to the identity of which experimental group these animals came from and my scores and observations strongly support their aging intervention. It really makes my day and fortunately, that almost always happens!”
Snider enjoys his work and encourages others to join this growing area of research.
“The field of aging biology, and aging research is extremely active and exciting right now. There is a wealth of opportunities across the nation for people to become involved, not only with the animal models but with other aspects of aging which include therapeutics and drug development. Veterinarians have a huge role to play in this as they study their own aged animal models that again, translates into improved human health and human longevity.
“Right now with aging research I think we are on the cusp of a new revolution of drugs and therapies that are going to be approved in the coming years for humans to age better, longer and have healthier later years as they age. It’s very exciting to know that the support I give to other investigators and what I’m doing makes a difference.”
If you would like to support research at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, please contact Ashley Hesser, assistant director of development with the OSU Foundation, at ahesser@osugiving.com or 405-385-0715.
MEDIA CONTACT: Taylor Bacon | Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator | 405-744-6728 | taylor.bacon@okstate.edu