Mouse model that mimics human telomere aging
A mouse model with humanized telomere homeostasis
Researchers are creating mice that copy human telomere behavior to help us learn more about aging and many cancers in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321051 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, scientists are changing a key gene in mice so their telomeres—protective chromosome caps that shorten with age in humans—behave like ours. The team replaced mouse regulatory sequences with human TERT control sequences to make telomere maintenance in these mice more human-like and to produce shorter telomere lengths similar to people. They will use these humanized mice to study how telomere shortening contributes to aging, cancer development, and other age-related conditions. Findings from these experiments aim to make preclinical tests of new therapies more predictive for human disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this project does not enroll people, adults with age-related diseases or cancers are the groups most likely to benefit from future discoveries made using these mice.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is preclinical mouse research rather than a human trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this model could improve how well lab studies predict human aging and cancer, speeding the development of treatments that target telomere-related disease mechanisms.
How similar studies have performed: Previous telomerase-related mouse models have helped researchers learn about aging and cancer, but making mice with fully human-like telomere regulation is a newer and more targeted approach.
Where this research is happening
Pullman, United States
- Washington State University — Pullman, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Jiyue — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Jiyue
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.