Finding aging signs in tiny tissue particles (extracellular vesicles)
Extracellular Vesicles for Gaining Insights into Tissue Senescent Signatures: A SenNET Pilot and Exploratory Project
This project looks for signs of cell aging carried in tiny particles released by tissues to better understand aging in organs like fat, kidney, pancreas, skin, and placenta.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321386 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect tissue and blood samples from adult donors (for example, kidney donors, people having C-sections, outpatient biopsies, and organ donors) and isolate small particles called extracellular vesicles that tissues release. They will use advanced lab tools like single-cell and spatial gene reading, tissue staining, and DNA damage markers to see which cells show aging features. The team will link signs found in vesicles to the original tissues so we can map where and how aging appears across different organs. Results will be combined into detailed data maps that other researchers can use to guide future tests and treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults (21+) who can donate tissue or blood during procedures such as kidney donation, C-section delivery, outpatient fat or skin biopsies, or organ donation.
Not a fit: People who are not donating tissue or blood (including children and those unable to undergo the listed procedures) would not directly benefit from participating in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors detect and track tissue aging earlier and guide development of treatments that target aged cells.
How similar studies have performed: Early research shows extracellular vesicles can carry markers linked to cell aging, but applying these methods to create tissue-wide human aging maps is still novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Farmington, United States
- University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt — Farmington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuchel, George a — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Kuchel, George a
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.