3D human skin model to understand aging and sun damage
Senescence-on-a-chip: Building a microphysiological 3D skin model
This project builds a lab-grown 3D human skin model to show how aging and sun exposure harm skin cells and to help people with age-related or sun-damaged skin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179497 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is creating a microphysiological "skin-on-a-chip" made from human skin cells that mimics the layered structure of real skin and how it changes with age. They will induce chronological aging and photoaging with factors like repeated cell replication and ultraviolet exposure to produce senescent cells. Researchers will profile which skin cell types become senescent and what inflammatory signals (the SASP) they release to understand how the tissue environment is altered. The model can also be used to screen treatments that remove senescent cells or block their harmful signals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal contributors would be older adults or people with significant sun-damaged skin who can donate small skin samples or participate in future testing of therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment will not directly benefit because this project focuses on lab model development rather than delivering patient care today.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments that reduce harmful senescent cells or inflammation, improving aging skin appearance and potentially lowering skin cancer risk.
How similar studies have performed: Related organ-on-chip and 3D skin models have reproduced aspects of skin aging and helped test treatments, but targeting senescent cell secretions in a microphysiological system is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christiano, Angela M — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Christiano, Angela M
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 below.