Investigating the role of clonal hematopoiesis in aging and exceptional longevity
Official title: CH in Aging and Exceptional Longevity
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-10973774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in blood stem cells, known as clonal hematopoiesis, might influence aging and the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart problems, especially in older adults, including centenarians, to see if these changes can help protect against such conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,085,789 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG088659-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10973774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 95 and older, particularly those with exceptional longevity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 95 or do not have clonal hematopoiesis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how clonal hematopoiesis (CH), a condition characterized by mutations in blood stem cells, affects aging and the risk of age-related diseases. By studying unique cohorts of centenarians, the research aims to uncover the relationship between CH and conditions like Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The study will utilize extensive genetic and clinical data to analyze how CH evolves during healthy aging and its potential protective effects against these diseases. Participants will be drawn from well-characterized groups at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into healthy aging and strategies to reduce the risk of age-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between clonal hematopoiesis and aging, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shastri, Aditi — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Shastri, Aditi
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.