Demineralized bone paper models to study human bone aging and senolytic drugs
Official title: Develop and validate demineralized bone paper-based human bone metabolic and senolytic assays
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11378188 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to create easy-to-use human bone models on paper-like sheets to study aging and drugs that target aging cells, which could help prevent bone metastasis in cancer survivors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $558,619 |
| NIH project number | 5R33CA291301-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378188 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with cancer at risk of bone metastasis or aging-related bone loss who may participate in future translational studies or trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in bone aging research or those without bone metastasis risk may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will develop and validate demineralized bone paper (DBP) that mimics human bone tissue in a simple format. Researchers will create humanized bone metabolic assays using DBP to study how aging cells influence bone biology. The work will enable standardized tests for bone-targeting drugs, including senolytics, in a controlled lab setting. The models will be compatible with common lab equipment and allow microscopic imaging and analysis. The goal is to speed discovery of treatments that delay bone aging and reduce metastasis risk while providing a pathway toward future clinical investigations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster, more predictive testing of bone-aging therapies and senolytic drugs that may delay metastasis and improve bone health.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models and senolytic strategies have shown promise in delaying skeletal aging, but clinical adoption remains limited and more human-relevant models are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Jungwoo — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Lee, Jungwoo
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.