How aging and aged (senescent) cells may cause brain aneurysm rupture
Official title: Roles of aging and cellular senescence in the development of intracranial aneurysm rupture
Funded at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center · NIH-11308268 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research tests whether removing aging 'senescent' cells can lower the chance that a brain aneurysm will burst for people with intracranial aneurysms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $608,992 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077780-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308268 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future patient-facing trials would be adults with diagnosed unruptured intracranial aneurysms, especially older adults or those judged at higher risk of rupture.
✕Less likely to help
People without intracranial aneurysms, those whose aneurysms have already been definitively treated, or children are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how getting older and the buildup of 'senescent' cells can make an intracranial aneurysm more likely to burst. The team will use laboratory models and tissue analyses to see whether eliminating senescent cells reduces rupture risk. They will also use proteomics to identify inflammatory and tissue-remodeling proteins (the SASP) that are linked to rupture. Results are intended to point to treatments that target aging-related cells or the harmful signals they release.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could point to new therapies that reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture by targeting aging-related cells and inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Clearing senescent cells has shown benefit in animal and lab studies of other age-related conditions, but using this approach to prevent brain aneurysm rupture is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hashimoto, Tomoki — St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hashimoto, Tomoki
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating how aging and cell aging affect the risk of brain aneurysm rupture
This study is looking at how getting older might increase the risk of brain aneurysms bursting and whether getting rid of certain aging cells can help prevent this, with the hope of finding new treatments that could benefit patients at risk.
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Understanding how brain aneurysm walls and shape change over time
This project studies how small brain aneurysms grow and whether MRI features of the aneurysm wall and its shape can predict growth so doctors can better decide when treatment is needed.
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A research project uses 4D flow MRI and new math models to predict how brain aneurysms grow over time, helping doctors decide on safer treatments for people with UIAs.
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Reprogramming blood-vessel lining cells in inherited brain aneurysms
This project aims to find out whether fixing gene-related changes in the cells that line brain arteries can lower aneurysm risk in people with a family history.
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How tiny cell structures (podosomes) may weaken brain arteries and cause aneurysms
Testing whether podosomes — small structures inside blood vessel cells — make brain arteries weaker and raise the risk of aneurysm rupture for people with or at risk of brain aneurysms.
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How cells' cleanup of vessel attachments may affect brain aneurysms
This project looks at whether a cellular cleanup process in blood‑vessel lining cells weakens brain arteries and contributes to aneurysms in people at risk for intracranial aneurysm.
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.