Understanding how a specific type of Hydra grows, regenerates, and ages.
Official title: Genetically enabling Hydra oligactis for comparative studies in development, regeneration and aging.
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10997108 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a tiny freshwater creature called Hydra to learn more about how it heals and ages, which could help us understand similar processes in humans and lead to better medical treatments in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $241,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21OD037741-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997108 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would be individuals interested in the biological mechanisms of aging and regeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to aging or regenerative processes may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the freshwater cnidarian Hydra oligactis, which is less studied compared to its relative Hydra vulgaris. The project aims to develop genomic resources and tools to better understand the differences in regeneration and aging between these two species. By utilizing advanced techniques like CRISPR, researchers will explore the molecular mechanisms that govern these processes. Patients may benefit from insights gained about regeneration and aging that could inform future medical treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in understanding regeneration and aging, potentially influencing regenerative medicine and therapies for age-related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While research on Hydra has been foundational in biology, the specific approach of studying Hydra oligactis using CRISPR is relatively novel and underexplored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Juliano, Celina — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Juliano, Celina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.