About Me

I am an assistant professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

As our lifespan continues to extend, the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle throughout aging and managing diseases becomes increasingly vital for both individuals and society as a whole. My focus lies in exploring avenues to enhance healthy and active aging among the elderly population and individuals battling chronic diseases.

In our laboratory, we utilize animal models to delve into the mechanisms underlying muscle weakness and wasting, while concurrently assessing interventions with potential translational value for older adults and patients with chronic diseases. Specifically, our research investigates the role of free radicals in the progression of muscle mass and function loss associated with aging, a condition known as sarcopenia. Building upon previous findings indicating that reactive oxygen species originating from mitochondria represent an early trigger for muscle weakness and decline, we employ gain-of-function and loss-of-function mouse models targeting antioxidant enzymes to elucidate the causal relationship between oxidative stress and sarcopenia.

Furthermore, we explore interventions capable of mitigating muscle wasting and weakness in both older adults and those grappling with chronic diseases. Our current research is centered on evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of unacylated ghrelin in delaying sarcopenia and cancer cachexia.

Ultimately, the overarching objective of our research endeavors is to identify strategies that can prolong active and functional lifespans among older adults and patients with chronic diseases.

Research Laboratory

The Ahn lab research is focused on mitochondrial redox biology and contractile properties of muscle with age and diseases.

Education Program Involvement

Molecular Medicine and Translational Science PhD
Program Research Interest: Analytical approaches to molecular and cellular synthesis, structure and function, Genetics and gene regulation, Cell communications, Organ systems, Pathophysiology

Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology PhD 
Program Research Interest:
Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Cardiovascular Physiology and Hypertension, Regenerative Medicine, Neuro- and Behavioral Pharmacology, Cancer Therapeutics Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Lifespan Physiology.