How shifts in gene activity may drive aging and loss of organ resilience
Integrative Multi-Scale Systems Analysis of Gene-Expression-Driven Aging Morbidity
Looks at whether age-related shifts in which genes are active cause tissues to lose resilience to stress in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247971 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows a finding that, with age and during lung infection, short genes and long genes become imbalanced in how much they are expressed. The team will use lab-grown cells, pieces of animal tissue, whole animal models, and computer learning applied to existing data to model how that imbalance affects cell and organ function. Their work focuses on mechanisms that could make organs less able to respond to stress and infection as people get older. Results aim to point to molecular pathways that could be targeted to preserve resilience in aging tissues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to adults (21+) interested in the biology of aging or in contributing samples to aging-related research.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate clinical treatments or cures are unlikely to benefit directly because this is primarily laboratory and preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If true, the work could reveal new molecular targets to help restore balanced gene activity and improve organ resilience in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show genes change expression with age, but the specific concept of a length-dependent transcriptome imbalance is relatively new and not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stoeger, Thomas — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Stoeger, Thomas
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 below.