New microfluidic platform to study aging and reproduction in C. elegans
Official title: Decoupling reproductive and somatic aging using novel C. elegans technology
Funded at University of Texas Arlington · NIH-11536591 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to make studying aging and reproductive biology in C. elegans easier and faster by using a new microfluidic chip that automates how worms are loaded, housed, and imaged.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Arlington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Arlington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $40,251 |
| NIH project number | 3R15AG089221-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11536591 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are researchers with access to C. elegans facilities and interest in aging and reproductive biology; no direct patient participation is required.
✕Less likely to help
Patients will not participate directly in this technical platform development.
What this research studies
This project creates a 384‑unit multilayer chip that automates loading, housing, and flush-out of C. elegans for reproductive studies. It uses microfluidics, programmable valves, and automated imaging to collect data on offspring and molecular markers with less manual labor. The setup is designed to be user-friendly so trainees can operate it without specialized engineering skills, and it emphasizes high-resolution imaging to quantify reproductive output. The goal is to decouple reproductive aging signals from somatic aging by enabling more efficient, scalable experiments in a well-controlled platform.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit indirectly from faster, more precise aging research that may inform interventions affecting human reproductive aging.
How similar studies have gone: Similar microfluidic and automated imaging approaches have shown promise in reducing labor and increasing data quality for C. elegans studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Arlington
Arlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sohrabi, Salman — University of Texas Arlington
- Study coordinator: Sohrabi, Salman
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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.