Understanding how aging affects immune responses to severe respiratory viruses

Age related loss of immune resilience during response to severe respiratory viral infections

['FUNDING_U01'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11118787

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

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorNEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11118787 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those over 65 years old, who have experienced severe respiratory viral infections.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 65 years old or those without severe respiratory viral infections may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.