Investigating how aging affects the intestines in a small worm model.
Official title: Tissue Mechanisms of Aging in the Genetic Model C. elegans
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-10942627 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at tiny worms to learn how their intestines change as they get older, which could help us understand what keeps them healthy as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $525,716 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG088223-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10942627 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals interested in the biological mechanisms of aging and those who may have conditions related to aging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute or severe health conditions unrelated to aging mechanisms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the nematode C. elegans, a small worm that serves as a model for studying aging. The project aims to understand how the intestines of these worms respond to cellular stress as they age, particularly looking at changes in the structure and function of intestinal cells. By examining the early signs of aging in the intestines, researchers hope to identify critical factors that contribute to healthy lifespan. The study employs genetic and cellular techniques to analyze the deterioration of intestinal nuclei and their implications for aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to insights that improve our understanding of aging and potentially inform strategies to promote healthier aging in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using C. elegans as a model for aging has shown promising results, indicating that this approach is well-established and has the potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Priess, James R — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Priess, James R
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.