NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mapping elderly mouse tissues to understand aging and senescence

Official title: Administrative Supplement to: Midwest Murine-Tissue Mapping Center (MM-TMC)

Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11518606 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Aimed at creating a detailed map of aging cells in mouse tissues to help understand how aging happens and how it affects organs.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project startAugust 2, 2022
Project endJuly 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$500,000
NIH project number3U54AG079754-04S2
Project IDNIH-11518606 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are individuals interested in aging biology or aging-related diseases, or patients contributing samples to future translational studies.

Less likely to help

People not involved in aging research or not connected to future senescence-related studies may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

This project expands a large mouse-tissue mapping effort to include cellular senescence across adipose, brain, liver, lung, and muscle tissues in two mouse strains. Researchers use single-cell RNA sequencing, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, CyTOF, and spatial techniques to build a 4D map showing where aging cells sit and how they interact within tissues. The work focuses on how senescent cells contribute to aging and related diseases, with insights that could guide future therapies. The supplementary work is conducted within core facilities that generate and analyze tissue samples to enable precise, tissue-specific understanding of aging biology.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could inform strategies to target senescent cells and improve healthy aging and age-related disease management.

How similar studies have gone: Similar efforts have demonstrated the value of single-cell and spatial mapping in revealing tissue-specific aging patterns, with growing evidence of actionable targets.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Robbins, Paul D. — University of Minnesota
  • Study coordinator: Robbins, Paul D.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.