Chemical probes to reveal stem cells and their environment in aging
Chemical Probes for Studying Stem Cells and Environmental Interactions in Aging
Creating chemical imaging probes that light up stem cells and aging-related tissue signals so researchers can better protect and restore tissue repair in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330488 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops sensitive chemical probes that can non-invasively visualize stem cells and aging-related biomarkers in living tissues. Researchers will design probes that report on aldehyde-processing enzyme activity and other signals like oxygen levels and inflammation, and test them in cells and whole-animal models. The team aims to make probes that track stem cells without changing their behavior and to build dual-purpose probes that show interactions between stem cells and their surroundings. These tools are meant to improve how we see and understand stem cell decline with age, paving the way for future human studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: While the current work is preclinical, future human studies could include older adults with age-related tissue repair problems or volunteers willing to provide tissue samples.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate therapy will not benefit now because this grant focuses on tool development rather than delivering treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could let doctors and researchers see stem cells and damaging chemistry in tissues, guiding treatments that keep tissues healthier as people age.
How similar studies have performed: Related molecular imaging probes have shown promise in preclinical work, but the proposed dual-functional, highly sensitive probes for aldehyde activity and stem-cell tracking are relatively novel and untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Jefferson — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Chan, Jefferson
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.