Cellular aging and lung disease in Down syndrome babies and adults
Official title: Cellular Senescence in Trisomy 21 lung disease
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11411345 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will explore how aging cells may drive lung problems in people with Down syndrome from birth through adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Torrance, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $598,216 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171915-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411345 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Down syndrome across various ages, including prenatal/pediatric and adult cohorts, with or without diagnosed airway disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Down syndrome or without lung-related conditions would not directly benefit from this DS-focused research.
What this research studies
People with Down syndrome often have serious lung issues that contribute to hospitalizations. This project looks at aging-like changes in lung cells and how these cells communicate with neighboring cells, potentially affecting lung development and disease in DS. Researchers will examine mechanisms like DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondria to understand how premature cell aging may contribute to DS lung disease from prenatal stages onward. The work could identify targets to reduce lung complications and improve long-term respiratory health in DS. The study is grounded in human biology and leverages samples and models relevant to DS respiratory disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or lessen lung problems in people with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown links between cellular aging and respiratory issues, but this project aims to uncover DS-specific connections in the lung.
Where this research is happening
-
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Al Alam, Denise — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Al Alam, Denise
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.