UT Health San Antonio to test three existing drugs for delaying functional decline among South Texans

A federally funded effort to evaluate “healthspan” interventions

UT Health San Antonio has been awarded up to $38 million in federal funding to study whether three already-approved prescription drugs can be repurposed to delay age-related health and functional decline in older adults in South Texas. The work is being led by the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, a long-running aging-research hub within the academic health center.

The planned clinical study is designed around a “healthspan” concept: extending the years of life spent in good physical and cognitive function, rather than targeting a single disease endpoint. Researchers are focusing on adults ages 60 to 65 who are generally healthy, a window intended to capture early functional changes that can precede more significant disability.

Which drugs are being studied and why they matter

The study will examine three U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications: rapamycin, dapagliflozin and semaglutide. Each has a different primary approved use and biological mechanism, which is central to the study’s design.

• Rapamycin (also known as sirolimus) is widely used as an immunosuppressant in transplant medicine and has been studied for its effects on cellular pathways linked to aging biology.

• Dapagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor used for type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic indications; the broader class has been associated with benefits in cardiovascular and kidney-related outcomes in appropriate patient groups.

• Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is used for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, reflecting the growing clinical focus on metabolic health and downstream impacts on multiple organ systems.

By selecting drugs that are already on the market, researchers aim to test whether established safety and manufacturing pathways can support a faster transition from research findings to clinical practice—if the results warrant it.

How the South Texas population fits into aging research

UT Health San Antonio has emphasized a strong focus on South Texas in its aging portfolio, including infrastructure supported by major National Institutes of Health funding. The region’s demographics—including a large and growing older-adult population and substantial representation of communities often underrepresented in clinical research—make it a consequential setting for studying interventions meant for broad use.

Researchers say the project’s design depends on effective community engagement and practical access to participation. UT Health San Antonio and partner organizations are expected to play operational roles in outreach and study logistics, including efforts intended to lower barriers to enrollment and follow-up.

Key scientific and policy questions the trial could inform

Unlike trials aimed at treating a diagnosed illness, a study that tests medications in generally healthy adults raises distinct questions about endpoints, measurement, and risk-benefit balance. The work is expected to track functional outcomes relevant to independent living and quality of life, rather than focusing exclusively on disease-specific markers.

The study’s central question is whether midlife-to-early-senior interventions can measurably preserve function before significant decline occurs.

If successful, the research could help clarify whether prevention-oriented prescribing for aging-related decline can be evaluated with the same rigor as traditional disease trials, and what evidence would be required before such an approach could be considered for wider clinical use.