NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mapping aging (senescent) cells across mouse organs over the lifespan

Official title: Spatial Mapping Senescent Cells Across the Mouse Lifespan by Multiplex Transcriptomics and Epigenomics

Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11363960 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Researchers will create detailed maps of aging (senescent) cells in key organs of male and female mice to show where these cells appear and how they change with age.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2022
Project endJuly 31, 2027
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$198,900
NIH project number3U54AG079758-04S1
Project IDNIH-11363960 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

There are no human participants or enrollment—this work uses mouse tissues, so patients cannot join this project.

Less likely to help

People seeking immediate treatments or wishing to enroll in a clinical trial will not directly benefit from this mouse-based foundational research.

What this research studies

This project uses advanced single-cell and spatial methods to profile gene activity and chromatin changes in brain, bone marrow, breast, colon, and liver from male and female mice at multiple ages. The team will combine in situ and tissue-dissociation multi-omic tools to produce single-cell-resolution transcriptome and epigenome maps with spatial information. Results will quantify the normal burden and locations of senescent cells across tissues and the lifespan and aim to define molecular signatures of senescence. The center will generate shared atlases and datasets to help other researchers link senescent-cell types to age-related disease mechanisms.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, these atlases could help scientists pinpoint harmful senescent cells and guide development of targeted therapies for age-related conditions.

How similar studies have gone: Previous mouse and early human research has identified senescent-cell signatures and shown promise for senolytic approaches, but comprehensive spatial single-cell atlases across multiple organs are new.

Where this research is happening

  • Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
    La Jolla, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Adams, Peter D. — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
  • Study coordinator: Adams, Peter D.

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.