CAR T therapy to remove harmful aging (senescent) cells
Toward development of senolytic CAR T cells
This project develops CAR T cells designed to find and remove aged, damaged cells that build up with time and can drive diseases like atherosclerosis, fibrosis, arthritis, and metabolic problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11227752 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing CAR T cells that recognize and kill senescent cells—damaged cells that accumulate with age and release inflammatory signals. They focus on a surface protein called uPAR that is common on many senescent cells and have already shown that uPAR-targeting CAR T cells can clear these cells and improve fibrosis and metabolic health in mice. This grant supports further preclinical work to test safety and efficacy and to optimize the therapy for human use. If these steps go well, the approach would move toward clinical testing at specialized centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related conditions such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, organ fibrosis, osteoarthritis, or metabolic disorders—or older adults whose illnesses are believed to be driven by senescent cells—would be most relevant for future trials.
Not a fit: Young healthy individuals, people with diseases not driven by senescent cells, and patients who cannot receive cellular immunotherapy (for example, those with severe immunodeficiency) are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce inflammation and organ damage from age-related diseases and improve outcomes in conditions like atherosclerosis, fibrosis, arthritis, and metabolic disorders by removing harmful senescent cells.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies in mice have shown that uPAR-targeting CAR T cells can clear senescent cells and improve disease measures, but human testing of senolytic CAR T therapy has not yet been done.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lowe, Scott W. — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Lowe, Scott W.
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.