Preventing age-related diseases by understanding immune aging
Molecular interception and immunological characterization of age-associated disease
Looking for signs of immune aging in middle-aged and older adults to help prevent diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung illness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192809 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a program that follows middle-aged and older adults and collects blood and health information to track how the immune system changes over time. Researchers will compare immune markers, genetic and lifestyle factors, and responses to flu vaccination to find early signs of 'immune aging.' They will link those immune changes to later development of conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease to find times when prevention might work best. Participation may involve clinic visits, blood draws, sharing medical history, and possibly receiving a flu vaccine as part of the work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are middle-aged and older adults who can travel to Stanford-area clinics, provide blood samples, and share medical and lifestyle information.
Not a fit: Younger adults below middle age, people unwilling to give samples or share records, or those with health concerns unrelated to immune aging are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify people at higher risk earlier and point to ways to prevent or slow age-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked immune decline to disease risk and flu response, but using middle-age cohorts to pinpoint early intervention opportunities is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Mark Morris — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Davis, Mark Morris
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.