Mapping cell types and aging cells in fat tissue of older adults
Single nuclei RNA-sequencing to map adipose cellular populations and senescent cells in older subjects
['FUNDING_R01'] · CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11299522
This project uses a high-resolution lab method to find and map different cell types, including aging (senescent) cells, in fat tissue from older adults to learn how they relate to diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11299522 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will collect small samples of your fat tissue (adipose) and use a technique called single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify the different cell types inside. The team will look specifically for cells that show signs of aging or a harmful inflammatory profile known as senescence. By comparing samples from older people with different health conditions, they hope to see how changes in fat cells connect to diseases like type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic vascular disease, and Alzheimer’s. The work is laboratory-based and aims to create a detailed map of cell populations that could point to new biomarkers or targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults, especially older adults, willing to provide small fat-tissue samples, including people with or without conditions like type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic disease, or Alzheimer’s disease.
Not a fit: People who are unwilling or unable to provide a fat biopsy (for example, children, pregnant people, or those with contraindications to biopsy) are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific cell types or signals in fat tissue that become targets for new tests or therapies for age-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing have been successfully used to map cell types in many human tissues, but applying these methods specifically to senescent cells in older human adipose tissue is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MUSI, NICOLAS — CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: MUSI, NICOLAS
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 below.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus, Alzheimer disease dementia