3D aging human lung model to study how aging affects epithelial repair
Official title: A 3D aging human ex-vivo lung model to decode the role of mesenchyme in epithelial senescence and repair
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11439117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A human-derived, 3D lung model built from stem cells will be aged in the lab to understand why the lung’s repair system slows down as we get older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,575 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG102421-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11439117 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would include individuals with aging-related lung changes or healthy donors whose cells are used to build the model (for research, not a patient treatment).
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit may be limited until later translational steps; the model itself is a research tool.
What this research studies
This project creates a ventilatable, bioprinted 3D alveolar sac from stem cell–derived lung cells to mimic aging lungs. It investigates how aging mesenchymal cells influence epithelial cell function, surfactant production, and tissue mechanics. The goal is to reveal mechanisms behind epithelial senescence and impaired repair in the aging lung using a human-relevant model.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this model could help researchers develop therapies to preserve or restore lung repair in older patients.
How similar studies have gone: Similar human-derived 3D lung models have shown promise in replicating alveolar structure and function, but aging-specific interactions are an area of active exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ozbolat, Ibrahim — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Ozbolat, Ibrahim
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.