How individual cells differ and change over time

Defining a biophysical basis for cell types, cell states and cellular heterogeneity at single-cell resolution

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11249549

This project develops new ways to read a single cell's internal signals and behaviors to better understand aging cells and T-cells that matter for immune and age-related diseases.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11249549 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This work develops integrated single-cell technologies that link molecular programs to cell behaviors and responses. The team will apply these tools to study how epigenomic programs drive cell senescence, how transcriptional programs shape T-cell behavior for engineered immune cells, and how T-cells change during differentiation. Experiments will combine molecular profiling with biophysical measurements at single-cell resolution using laboratory model systems and disease-relevant cells. The goal is to map how cellular identities form and change in health and disease to inform future therapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with immune-related conditions, cancer patients receiving or eligible for cell therapies, older adults with age-related disorders, or anyone able to donate blood or tissue samples for research would be most relevant.

Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to immune function or cellular aging, or those unable or unwilling to provide samples, are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic-science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new cellular targets and improve design of cell-based therapies for immune and age-related diseases.

How similar studies have performed: Single-cell molecular profiling has already uncovered disease-linked cell states, but combining those approaches with detailed biophysical measurements is relatively new and less tested.

Where this research is happening

BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Disease, Disorder

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.