Understanding how aging affects immune responses to severe respiratory viruses
Official title: Age related loss of immune resilience during response to severe respiratory viral infections
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11118787 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how older adults react to serious respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu, to understand why they often get sicker than younger people, and the goal is to find ways to create better treatments just for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $500,424 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AG088351-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118787 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those over 65 years old, who have experienced severe respiratory viral infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 65 years old or those without severe respiratory viral infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how older adults respond to severe respiratory viral infections, such as COVID-19 and influenza. It aims to identify the immune system's maladaptive responses in older patients, which may lead to worse outcomes. By analyzing patient samples, the study seeks to uncover specific immune signatures that differ with age, potentially revealing why older individuals experience more severe illness. The findings could help develop targeted treatments for this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments and outcomes for older patients suffering from severe respiratory viral infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in identifying immune response patterns in older adults during viral infections, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas
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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.