Understanding how aging affects immune cell function and metabolism
Official title: Tissue systems biology of immune dysregulation in aging by single cell spatial metabolomics
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-10839917 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our immune system changes as we get older, especially how certain immune cells that help fight infections become less effective, and it's designed for older adults who want to understand more about their immune health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $175,349 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG081715-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10839917 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who may be experiencing weakened immune responses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not elderly or do not have immune system concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the immune system changes as people age, particularly focusing on immune cells that become less effective at fighting infections. It aims to understand the metabolic processes of specific immune cells, such as T follicular helper cells and B cells, in older adults compared to younger individuals. By using advanced techniques to analyze these cells at a single-cell level, the study seeks to identify the molecular changes that occur in the immune system due to aging. This could help in developing strategies to improve immune responses in older populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved immune function and better health outcomes for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding immune aging, but this specific approach using spatial metabolomics is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coskun, Ahmet F. — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Coskun, Ahmet F.
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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.