Removing p21-high aging cells to improve healthy lifespan
Official title: Targeting p21-Highly Expressing Cells to Increase Lifespan and Healthspan in Old Age
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11039923 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project sees whether removing a specific type of aging cell called 'p21-high' can help older adults stay healthier and live longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $450,547 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG076642-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11039923 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Although the experiments are preclinical in mice, the findings would be most relevant to older adults experiencing frailty or multiple age-related conditions such as heart disease or cancer.
✕Less likely to help
People who are young, without age-related decline, or seeking an immediate clinical therapy should not expect direct benefit from this preclinical research.
What this research studies
Researchers are using a new genetically engineered mouse model that lets them find, track, and remove p21-high senescent cells as animals age. They remove these cells periodically in old mice and measure effects on lifespan, frailty, and physical function. The team will compare p21-high cells to other senescent cell types and study how removing them affects tissues linked to cancer and heart disease. Although the work is in mice, the goal is to reveal targets that could lead to therapies to compress the period of poor health in later life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to treatments that reduce frailty, delay multiple age-related diseases, and extend the healthy years of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies that remove senescent cells (senolytics) have improved healthspan in mice, but specifically targeting p21-high cells is a newer approach with promising early mouse results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Ming — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Xu, Ming
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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.