Understanding how aging-related cell aging affects brain inflammation after surgery
Official title: Understanding the role of senescence on post-operative neuroinflammation
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11592550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how aging-related cellular changes after surgery can worsen brain inflammation and delirium, especially in older adults with neurodegenerative risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,023,047 |
| NIH project number | 7RF1AG076203-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11592550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with frailty or neurodegenerative risk who may undergo major surgery and be at risk for postoperative delirium.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy younger individuals with low delirium risk may not directly benefit from this preclinical-focused research.
What this research studies
The research uses a mouse model of orthopedic fracture to study how senescent cells and aging weaken the blood-brain barrier after surgical injury. It will examine how systemic inflammation interacts with brain immune cells to drive neuroinflammation and delirium-like symptoms. Findings could reveal targets to reduce postoperative brain complications in older patients with dementia risk. The study focuses on linking peripheral injury, BBB dysfunction, and brain aging to improve future patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to strategies that prevent or lessen postoperative delirium and neuroinflammation in older adults, improving recovery and long-term brain health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in aging and neuroinflammation show that senescent cells influence brain responses; this work extends those findings to postoperative contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Varghese, Shyni — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Varghese, Shyni
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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.