Dog Aging Project

What Dog Aging Project does

The Dog Aging Project is a large-scale community science research initiative studying how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence health and aging in companion dogs, with translational findings intended to benefit human aging research. Founded in 2019 as a partnership between the University of Washington and Texas A&M University, the project operates as a distributed research network spanning 40+ participating institutions and a 100+ person team. As of July 2026, the project had enrolled 54,450 dogs across all 50 US states, with 30K+ dogs providing multiyear longitudinal data, 23K+ veterinary medical records, and biological samples banked at the Cornell University Veterinary Biobank.

The core product surface includes the Pack enrollment program with annual Health and Life Experience Surveys, three specialized cohorts (Foundation for genomics, Precision for biochemical studies, and TRIAD for the rapamycin clinical trial), and the Dog Park private online community. The underlying technology stack is the Terra cloud computing platform hosted by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, paired with REDCap for data capture, with curated data released annually to researchers worldwide. The TRIAD trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial evaluating rapamycin's effects on canine healthspan, funded by NIH grant R01AG090843 and a $7M NIH grant awarded in January 2025.

The Dog Aging Project does not generate commercial revenue. Operations are funded by NIH research grants (notably R01AG090843 and the 2025 $7M expansion grant), philanthropic donations routed through the Dog Aging Institute, and pledges from technology entrepreneurs. Participation is free for dog owners, and key inputs (DNA kits, veterinary monitoring, biological sample collection) are provided at no cost to participants. The entity is an academic research initiative rather than a commercial enterprise, with no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership structure.

Name

Dog Aging Project

Legal name

The Dog Aging Project

Website

https://dogagingproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Dog Aging Project is a community science research initiative, launched in 2019 as a partnership between the University of Washington and Texas A&M University, that enrolls companion dogs across all 50 US states to study aging. It operates the TRIAD rapamycin clinical trial, multi-omic cohorts, and a canine biobank, funded by NIH grants and philanthropic donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Research

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior & Special-Needs Dog Daycare (HSANAFAH), Senior Pet Grooming (Gentle/Low-Stress Handling) (HSANAJAA), Mobility Assistance & Accessibility Support (Ramps/Slings/Orthopedic Bedding) (HSANAJAG)

Keywords

• Canine longevity research
• Dog aging studies
• Veterinary epidemiology research
• Citizen science research
• Companion animal health

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants: The Dog Aging Project is supported by research grants from organizations including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including grant R01AG090843 for TRIAD clinical trial. Also supported by the Dog Aging Institute.
2. Philanthropic Donations: The project receives donations from organizations and individuals through the Dog Aging Institute.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Dog Aging Project is a community science research initiative that studies genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors influencing aging and longevity in companion dogs. Dog owners enroll their pets to share longitudinal health, behavioral, and biological data used by researchers at partner universities, with study outputs made available to the scientific community. Participation is free for pet owners.

Product overview

The Dog Aging Project is a community science initiative comprising the main Dog Aging Project Pack research program, three specialized cohorts (Foundation for genomics, Precision for biochemical studies, and TRIAD for clinical trials), the Dog Park online community, a Research Portal for participant data collection, and data access via the Terra platform. The project focuses on six scientific domains: health, genetics, environment, lifestyle, cognition, and activity, with the goal of understanding how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence health and aging in companion dogs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TRIAD: Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs - a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of rapamycin on health and aging in dogs
• The Pack
• Dog Park

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ peer-reviewed research publications in scientific journals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-director institution for the Dog Aging Project. Provides research leadership, infrastructure, and scientific expertise for the project based in Seattle, WA.
• Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution managing TRIAD clinical trial operations. Based in College Station, TX. The Texas A&M Communications team handles TRIAD media inquiries.
• Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardcoreTechnology or IntegrationHosts the Terra cloud computing platform used for Dog Aging Project data storage and access. Curated data released annually to researchers worldwide via Terra.
• Cornell University College of Veterinary MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouses the Dog Aging Project Biobank at Cornell University Veterinary Biobank. Stores biological samples collected from Precision and TRIAD cohorts.
• American Kennel ClubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach partner helping raise awareness about the project to their membership and dog community.
• DogtopiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach partner helping spread awareness about the project to their community.
• TrupanionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach partner helping spread awareness about the project to pet owner community.
• MuttnationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach partner helping spread awareness about the project to their community.
• Canine Cancer AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach partner raising awareness about canine health research.
• IAABC FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach partner helping spread awareness.
• SciStarterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitizen science platform partner helping recruit participants.
• Research Institution CollaboratorsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 40 participating institutions including Augusta University College of Science and Mathematics, Arizona State University, Boston University, Colorado State University, Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Princeton University, University of Arizona, University of Georgia, University of Illinois, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, and many more.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Embark Veterinary: Commercial dog genetics testing company with a research arm that partners with academic institutions on canine genetic discovery. Overlaps with the Dog Aging Project's Foundation Cohort genomics work and shares the goal of building large canine genotype-phenotype datasets.

Direct peers

• Darwin's Ark: Princeton-based citizen science dog genetics project that enrolls owner-reported dogs and sequences DNA to study behavior, health, and breed. Comparable open-science, community-driven approach to building a canine genetics and health dataset for research use.
• Morris Animal Foundation (Golden Retriever Lifetime Study): Runs the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, the largest prospective longitudinal study of canine health in the US, enrolling 3,000+ golden retrievers. Most directly comparable longitudinal canine health study with similar structure, scale goals, and NIH/funder-backed research mission.

Broad incumbents

• Wisdom Panel (Mars Petcare): Largest commercial dog DNA testing platform, owned by Mars Petcare. Comparable in building a large canine breed and health genetics database, though operating as a commercial product rather than open-science research initiative.
• AKC Canine Health Foundation: The largest nonprofit funder of canine health research in the US, supporting a broad portfolio of studies across breeds and conditions. Comparable mission of advancing canine health research and is a current kickoff supporter and grant funder of the Dog Aging Project.

Others

• Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard: Hosts the Terra cloud computing platform that powers Dog Aging Project data sharing. As a genomic and biomedical research platform operator, comparable in enabling large-scale, open-science human and animal health research at scale.
• UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: Academic veterinary genetics laboratory offering genetic testing and conducting canine health research. Comparable in combining biobanking, genetics research, and veterinary expertise to advance companion animal health.
• NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA): Primary federal funder of aging research in the US and current funder of the Dog Aging Project's Brain Health Study. Comparable as the dominant research-funding ecosystem for aging science that the Dog Aging Project depends on and contributes to.
• International Partnership for Dogs (DogWellNet): International collaborative organization working to improve canine health and welfare through coordinated research and information sharing. Comparable mission of advancing evidence-based canine health research and a listed outreach partner of the Dog Aging Project.
• Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (Tufts Pet Health): Major academic veterinary institution conducting canine longevity and clinical research, including the Dog Aging Project's independent rapamycin work. Comparable in combining veterinary clinical expertise with translational aging research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/dogagingproject
• Xx.com/dogagingproject
• Facebookfacebook.com/dogagingproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dogagingproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dog Aging Project