NIH-funded research R21 grant

Developing a platform to study secretions linked to aging

Official title: SASP-ER platform to identify spatiotemporal senescence-associated secretome

Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11054786 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is working on a new way to look at certain proteins that are linked to aging and age-related diseases, helping us understand how they affect our health as we get older.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project startNovember 15, 2024
Project endOctober 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$423,179
NIH project number1R21AG086744-01A1
Project IDNIH-11054786 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing age-related health issues or diseases.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not experiencing age-related conditions or are significantly younger may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research aims to create a platform that can assess the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in living organisms. SASP consists of various biologic factors that are believed to contribute to age-related diseases. The project will utilize a novel tagging system to identify and analyze these secreted proteins in specific cell types, addressing challenges in understanding their role in aging. By combining this innovative approach with established aging models, the research seeks to clarify the molecular identity of the SASP and its implications for health.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into age-related diseases and potential therapeutic targets for improving health in older adults.

How similar studies have gone: While the SASP has been studied in vitro, this approach to studying it in vivo is innovative and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Alder, Jonathan K. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
  • Study coordinator: Alder, Jonathan K.

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.