Aged immunity on a chip to study B cell dynamics
Official title: Human Aged-Immunity-on-Chip to Study B Cell Dynamics
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11443734 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A labs-based test uses a 3D chip of human immune tissue to study how aging changes antibody-producing B cells in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,849 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG102510-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11443734 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults whose immune systems show age-related changes in antibody production or germinal center function.
✕Less likely to help
If someone does not have age-related immune aging, they may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports building a human lymph node model on a chip that mimics aging-related changes in B cell behavior and antibody formation. Researchers will combine high-dimensional tissue mapping with a 3D organ-on-a-chip to observe live B–T cell interactions and germinal center polarization in aged individuals. The goal is to understand why older adults often produce lower-quality antibodies and how sex differences affect immune aging. The work uses human tissue concepts and advanced imaging to reveal mechanisms that could guide better vaccines for the elderly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: discovering ways to improve vaccine responses and antibody quality in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical human tissue studies and organ-on-a-chip models have shown promise in capturing human-like immune responses, but aging-specific human data are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Ankur — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Singh, Ankur
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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.