High-resolution mapping of aging (senescent) cells in tissues
Seq-Scope: Microscopic Examination of Spatial Single Cell Transcriptome in Cell and Tissue Senescence
This project develops a lab method to precisely map aging or “senescent” cells inside body tissues so researchers can better understand age-related damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299635 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one have age-related conditions, this work is building tools to show where senescent cells sit inside real tissues and what genes they are expressing. Researchers are refining a high-resolution spatial transcriptomics method called Seq‑Scope and combining it with tissue expansion to see cellular detail beyond normal microscope limits. They will also use a new computer algorithm called FICTURE to analyze the spatial gene data without forcing artificial cell boundaries. The team plans to apply these tools to diverse tissue samples to reveal how senescent cells interact with their surroundings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related diseases or those willing to donate tissue samples (for example, surgical biopsies) are the most likely candidates to contribute to or benefit from this work.
Not a fit: People without tissue samples to provide or those not affected by senescence-related conditions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help pinpoint harmful aging cells in the body and guide development of targeted therapies to reduce age-related tissue damage.
How similar studies have performed: Other spatial transcriptomics approaches have shown promise for mapping cells in tissues, and this project builds on and extends those methods with higher resolution and new computation tools.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Jun Hee — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lee, Jun Hee
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.