Investigating how aging cells affect severe COVID-19 in patients with obesity and liver disease
Official title: The role of senescence in severe COVID-19
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11129638 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aging cells in the liver might make COVID-19 worse for people with obesity and liver disease, and it hopes to find out if getting rid of these cells can help improve their symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 2, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $203,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI183111-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129638 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with obesity or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) who have experienced severe COVID-19 symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity or liver disease, or those who have not experienced severe COVID-19 symptoms, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the connection between aging cells and severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients with obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The team will create organoids from liver tissues of NASH patients to study how these senescent cells contribute to the body's inflammatory response during COVID-19. By using mouse models and human-derived cells, they aim to determine if removing these aging cells can improve severe symptoms related to COVID-19. This approach may provide insights into new treatment strategies for affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that alleviate severe COVID-19 symptoms in patients with obesity and liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has indicated that targeting senescent cells can improve outcomes in various diseases, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raabe, Tobias D. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Raabe, Tobias D.
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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.