Mapping aging (senescent) cells in kidney, fat, pancreas, placenta, and skin

The KAPP-Sen Tissue Mapping Center Collaborative

NIH-funded research University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-11177702

This project will map where aging (senescent) cells live and how they differ across healthy human organs to help researchers better understand aging.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Farmington, United States)
Project IDNIH-11177702 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From the patient's viewpoint, researchers will collect tissue samples from consenting donors at several medical centers and analyze those samples with advanced lab and computational methods to find and describe senescent cells. The work focuses on healthy human kidney, adipose (fat), pancreas, and placenta tissues, with possible complementary skin samples. Teams across six institutions will standardize procedures, generate cellular maps, and share data to build a clear picture of how senescent cells vary by tissue and person. The goal is to create openly accessible maps and biological markers that other scientists can use to guide new treatments for age-related conditions.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people willing to donate tissue samples (for example surgical discards, biopsy donors, organ or placental donors, or healthy volunteers) at one of the participating centers.

Not a fit: People who cannot or will not provide tissue samples, or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this mapping project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the maps and markers could point to targets for therapies that reduce harmful senescent cells and slow tissue aging, benefiting patients with age-related conditions in the future.

How similar studies have performed: Large cell-atlas projects have successfully mapped many cell types, but detailed, multi-tissue mapping of senescent cells in healthy human organs is a newer and still-emerging area.

Where this research is happening

Farmington, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.