Richard L. Sprott

Richard Sprott began his undergraduate studies at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He completed them at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a B.A. with honors in Psychology. After receiving his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (Behavior Genetics) at U.N.C. he went on to a post-doctoral fellowship in Behavior Genetics at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. Following two years of teaching at Oakland University, Dr. Sprott returned to The Jackson Laboratory where he conducted a research program on single gene influences on behavior and the interaction of aging variables with those genes.

A major focus of his career has been the development of animal models for aging research. He developed a nationwide research program of research on biomarkers of aging and the effects of dietary restriction on longevity. He is the author of a large number of books and articles. He is an internationally recognized expert on animal model development and plays an active role in model development in countries around the world. He is the Past President of the International Biogerontological Resource Institute (IBRI) in Friuli, Italy.