Age-stratified gut-on-a-chip model to study microbiome-driven aging of the lining of the intestine
Official title: Age-Stratified Human Gut-on-a-Chip Model to Study Microbiome-Mediated Epithelial Aging
Funded at Jackson Laboratory · NIH-11442002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A human gut-on-a-chip model will be created to study how aging-related changes in the gut lining interact with microbiome shifts, using patient-derived tissues and age-appropriate microbes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $506,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG102431-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults, including older adults, whose gut tissue can be cultured as organoids and paired microbiome samples.
✕Less likely to help
If a person’s tissue cannot be cultured or cannot host the required anaerobic microbiomes, they may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project uses a microfluidic gut chip that can keep anaerobic bacteria alive while growing colon epithelium from people of different ages. It will compare young and old epithelial tissues alongside age-matched microbiomes to understand how aging affects barrier function and inflammation. By weaving organoid technology with controlled oxygen gradients, the study aims to reveal causal links between microbiome aging and epithelial decline in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify targets to preserve gut barrier health and reduce age-related infections and inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous gut-on-chip models showed viability with anaerobes and epithelial tissue, but this age-stratified approach is a novel step.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jalili, Sasan — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Jalili, Sasan
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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.