Scientific Results: Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD): study design and rationale for a prospective, parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of rapamycin in healthy middle-aged dogs from the Dog Aging Project

Author

Amanda E. Coleman

Where was it published?

GeroScience

 What is this paper about?

This paper describes the TRIAD clinical trial, which is part of our ongoing work to understand healthy aging in dogs. In TRIAD, we are testing whether a drug called rapamycin can help middle-aged dogs stay healthier and live longer. This is a double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial, meaning that some dogs receive rapamycin and others receive a placebo, and neither the owners nor the researchers know which group each dog is in.

The TRIAD study is still in progress, and this paper explains how the study is designed. We have set up the clinical trial to make sure we get fair and reliable results. Publishing a study’s design elements, in advance of publishing the results of the study, is called a “methods paper.” It is another way that scientists provide transparency about our research.

• Dogs in the study are divided into two groups. One group receives rapamycin, while the other group receives a placebo, which is a pill that looks the same but does not contain the drug.
• Double-masked: Neither the dog owners nor the researchers know which dogs are getting rapamycin and which are getting the placebo. This is called a double-masked study, and it helps make sure the results are unbiased.
• Randomized: Dogs are randomly assigned to each group, so the results are not influenced by any outside factors.
• Multicenter: The study takes place at several different veterinary clinics, which helps us include a wide variety of dogs.
• Prospective: Researchers follow the dogs over time to see how they do during the study.

The main goal of TRIAD is to find out if rapamycin can help middle-aged dogs by improving their heart health, keeping them more mobile, supporting their brain function, and helping them live longer, healthier lives.

What do these results mean for me and my dog?

This paper explains how the Dog Aging Project team is working toward important research goals. While we don’t have scientific results yet, early studies in other animals show that treatments like this could help dogs live healthier, longer lives—even after the treatment is finished.

Rapamycin is still being tested, but it may one day help dogs stay healthier and live longer. If it is shown to be safe and effective, it could help prevent or delay age-related problems like heart disease and help dogs stay active as they age. For now, rapamycin is experimental, so you don’t need to make any changes to your dog’s care. Your participation is helping us learn more and move closer to new ways to support healthy aging in dogs.

We’re looking for more dedicated volunteers to join this important research. If you’d like to see if your dog is eligible, you can learn more at dogagingproject.org/triad.

Where can I learn more?

Coleman, A.E., Creevy, K.E., Anderson, R. et al. Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD): study design and rationale for a prospective, parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of rapamycin in healthy middle-aged dogs from the Dog Aging Project. GeroScience 47, 2851–2877 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01484-7

Abstract

Companion dogs are a powerful model for aging research given their morphologic and genetic variability, risk for age-related disease, and habitation of the human environment. In addition, the shorter life expectancy of dogs compared to human beings provides a unique opportunity for an accelerated timeline to test interventions that might extend healthy lifespan. The Test of Rapamycin In Aging Dogs (TRIAD) randomized clinical trial is a parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial that will test the ability of rapamycin to prolong lifespan and improve several healthspan metrics in healthy, middle-aged dogs recruited from Dog Aging Project participants. Here, we describe the rationale, design, and goals of the TRIAD randomized clinical trial, the first rigorous test of a pharmacologic intervention against biological aging with lifespan and healthspan metrics as endpoints to be performed outside of the laboratory in any species.