How aging changes the lung's defenses against viruses
Official title: Modulation of Lung Immune Responses to Viral Infection
Funded at Jackson Laboratory · NIH-11330386 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team is looking at how aging lung cells change local immune defenses against respiratory viruses, with a focus on people over 65.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | March 5, 2019 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,637,774 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI142733-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330386 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People aged 65 and older who can donate airway samples or participate at a study clinic, as well as younger volunteers for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment for a current respiratory infection should not expect direct medical benefit from participating in this lab-focused research.
What this research studies
This program uses airway cells taken from people of different ages and grows them in lab "air-liquid-interface" cultures that mimic the lung surface. Researchers compare young and older donors to see how aged epithelial cells affect local immune cells and inflammation during viral infections like flu and COVID-19. They combine human samples with experimental infection models and molecular tests to map changes in immune signaling and tissue-resident immunity. The goal is to find epithelial-driven mechanisms that could be targeted to protect older adults from severe respiratory infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify why older adults face worse outcomes from lung viruses and point to ways to boost their lung immunity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown age-related declines in immunity and lab-grown airway cell models have provided useful clues, but turning these findings into proven treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palucka, Anna Karolina — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Palucka, Anna Karolina
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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.