How T cells interact with aging cells in the body
Official title: T cell surveillance of senescent cells under homeostasis and aging
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11031844 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how T cells, a type of immune cell, can find and get rid of old, non-dividing cells that can make us age and get sick, to help us stay healthier as we grow older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $133,353 |
| NIH project number | 1K99AG090620-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031844 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing age-related health issues or conditions associated with cellular senescence.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger and do not have age-related conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of T cells in recognizing and eliminating senescent cells, which are cells that have stopped dividing and can contribute to aging and various diseases. The study aims to understand how these aging cells communicate with T cells to either activate or inhibit their function. By examining the molecular mechanisms involved, the research seeks to uncover how T cells can effectively target and eliminate senescent cells, potentially improving health outcomes as we age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that enhance the immune system's ability to clear aging cells, potentially improving health and longevity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding T cell interactions with senescent cells, indicating that this approach has potential for significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sturmlechner, Ines — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Sturmlechner, Ines
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.