Understanding how certain blood cell changes linked to aging affect health
Establishing the dynamics of lymphoid clonal hematopoiesis and its aging-related disease consequences
This project aims to understand how age-related changes in blood cells, called clonal hematopoiesis, develop and contribute to health problems like infections, heart disease, and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136253 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As we get older, our blood cells can develop small changes in their DNA, leading to a condition called clonal hematopoiesis. This project focuses on a specific type of change, mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs), which are linked to a higher risk of certain diseases. We want to discover why some of these altered cells grow more than others and how quickly they expand. By understanding these patterns, we hope to learn how these changes impact overall health and the risk of age-related conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Individuals over 60 who have or are at risk for age-related conditions like infections, cardiovascular disease, or certain cancers, and who may have clonal hematopoiesis, could eventually benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose health conditions are not related to age-related changes in blood cell DNA or clonal hematopoiesis may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify individuals at higher risk for age-related diseases due to these blood cell changes and potentially lead to new ways to prevent or treat these conditions.
How similar studies have performed: While similar research on another type of clonal hematopoiesis (CHIP) has been active, this project focuses on mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs), which are less understood, making this a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bick, Alexander — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bick, Alexander
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 below.