Lymphoid follicles on a chip to study aging-related immune dysfunction
Official title: Spatially Validated Human Lymphoid Follicles-on-Chip for Modeling Inflammaging and Age-Related Immune Dysfunction
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11442957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-centered look at how aging changes our immune system, using a human lymphoid tissue on a chip to model aging and immune responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $518,555 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG102442-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults experiencing age-related immune changes or vascular/metabolic conditions linked to inflammaging, who could benefit from improved vaccines or immune therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
The study is laboratory-based and may not directly involve participants; results may not apply to every individual.
What this research studies
This project uses a human lymphoid follicle organ-on-a-chip to recreate aging-related immune changes in a dish, helping scientists understand why elderly people have weaker or altered antibody responses. The team combines the LF-Chip with advanced imaging and gene profiling to map where and how immune cells organize and become activated over time. By simulating recurrent infections, researchers aim to uncover why chronic inflammation occurs with age and how it affects antibody production. The work starts from validated human tissue models and progresses toward deeper insights that could inform better vaccines and therapies for older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better vaccine strategies and therapies that bolster immune function in aging individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Similar organ-on-chip approaches have shown faithful replication of human immune features and are promising for translating findings to patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Sizun — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Sizun
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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.