Identifying harmful aging cells that worsen infections
Identification of senescent cell types
Researchers want to find which types of aging (senescent) cells make older people more likely to have dangerous, overactive inflammation during infections like COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319002 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're an older person, this research is looking into which aging cells cause harmful inflammation during infections by using mouse models that mimic everyday exposures. Scientists expose lab mice to microbes carried by pet-store mice, including a mouse coronavirus, to recreate real-world infections and compare how young and old animals respond. They measure the inflammatory signals produced by senescent cells and how those signals disrupt immune defenses during infection. The aim is to find specific cell types and mechanisms that could be targeted to protect older people from severe illness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would be older adults or people with age-related conditions who are at high risk for severe infection-related complications.
Not a fit: Younger people or individuals whose infections are driven by causes unrelated to aging-related inflammation may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to treatments that remove or block harmful senescent cells to reduce the risk of severe infection and death in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Removing or blocking senescent cells has improved age-related outcomes in animal studies and shown promise in early human trials, but applying this approach to prevent severe infection is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Niedernhofer, Laura Jane — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Niedernhofer, Laura Jane
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.