How aging affects immune cell function and response to vaccines
Official title: The Influence of Aging on Plasma Cell Function and Bone Marrow Competition
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-10993265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how getting older affects important immune cells called plasma cells, which help us keep our immunity strong after vaccinations, and it aims to find out why older adults might not respond as well to vaccines so we can improve their vaccine effectiveness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AI186234-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10993265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older, particularly those who are elderly and may have weakened immune responses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 or those with pre-existing conditions that severely compromise their immune systems may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how aging impacts the function of plasma cells, which are crucial for maintaining long-lasting immunity after vaccination. It focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind reduced antibody responses in older adults, particularly how plasma cells behave in the bone marrow. By using advanced imaging techniques, the study aims to observe the movement and survival of these immune cells in real-time, providing insights into why older individuals may have weaker vaccine responses. The findings could help identify new strategies to enhance vaccine efficacy in the elderly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved vaccine strategies that enhance immune responses in older adults, potentially reducing their risk of infection.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding immune cell behavior can lead to significant advancements in vaccine development, suggesting that this approach has the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ovando, Luis Jose — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Ovando, Luis Jose
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.