How age and sex change immune reactions to medical implants and biomaterials
Official title: Age and sex differences in the immune response to synthetic materials
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11386500 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are designing medical materials that work better for older adults by matching them to how aging and sex change immune responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $243,330 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG081564-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386500 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be older adults (roughly age 60 and up) of any sex who need or may receive implants or biomaterial-based therapies, or who can donate blood or tissue samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
Younger people and those who are not receiving biomaterial implants are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project in the near term.
What this research studies
This project will create and test synthetic materials used in implants, drug delivery, and tissue scaffolds to see how immune cells from older people react. Scientists will compare responses across ages and sexes and change material features to reduce scarring and encourage tissue repair. Experiments will use lab models and human-derived samples to find material design rules that work in aged immune systems. The goal is to produce biomaterials that cause less harmful inflammation and improve healing for older patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to implants and scaffolds that cause less inflammation and scarring in older men and women, improving healing and function.
How similar studies have gone: Past biomaterials work has reduced scarring by tuning immune responses, but specifically tailoring materials for aging and sex differences is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mejias, Joscelyn Claraluz — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Mejias, Joscelyn Claraluz
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.