Investigating the link between T-cell telomere length and COVID-19 severity in older adults
Official title: Shorter T-cell telomeres, lymphopenia, and high mortality of older people with COVID-19
Funded at Rbhs-New Jersey Medical School · NIH-10490491 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aging affects the immune system in older adults with COVID-19, specifically checking if shorter T-cell telomeres are linked to more serious illness, to help us understand why older people might get sicker from the virus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rbhs-New Jersey Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $321,850 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AG073226-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10490491 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those hospitalized with COVID-19, especially those showing severe symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 years old or those without COVID-19 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding why older adults are more likely to experience severe outcomes from COVID-19. It examines the role of T-cell telomere length, which shortens with age, in the development of lymphopenia—a condition where there are low levels of T-cells in the blood. By studying blood samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the research aims to determine if shorter telomeres are associated with worse disease outcomes. The findings could provide insights into how aging affects immune response and recovery from COVID-19.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for managing COVID-19 in older adults, potentially reducing mortality rates.
How similar studies have gone: While the link between telomere length and immune response is established, this specific investigation into COVID-19 outcomes in older adults is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Rbhs-New Jersey Medical School
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aviv, Abraham — Rbhs-New Jersey Medical School
- Study coordinator: Aviv, Abraham
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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.