Understanding how natural immunity changes with age in men and women
Official title: The Role of Biological Sex in the Self-renewal of B1 Cells into Old Age in Mice and Humans
Funded at Western Michigan Univ School of Medicine · NIH-11192909 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how our natural defenses, called B1 cells, stay strong or weaken as we get older, especially noticing differences between men and women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Western Michigan Univ School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kalamazoo, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $749,245 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG084752-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192909 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant to older adults, particularly those interested in how their immune system changes with age and how biological sex might play a role.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment for an existing condition may not directly benefit from this foundational biological research.
What this research studies
As we age, our immune system can become less effective, making us more vulnerable to illness. This project explores how a specific type of immune cell, called B1 cells, changes over time, particularly focusing on why natural antibodies might protect older women better than older men. Researchers will investigate these differences to understand how our bodies maintain protection against diseases as we age. The goal is to uncover the biological reasons behind these changes, which could lead to new ways to keep older adults healthier.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for preventing infections and diseases in older adults by boosting their natural immune responses.
How similar studies have gone: While the general concept of age-related immune decline is known, this specific focus on B1 cell self-renewal and sex differences in natural antibody protection represents a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Western Michigan Univ School of Medicine
Kalamazoo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holodick, Nichol Elizabeth — Western Michigan Univ School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Holodick, Nichol Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neural factors behind age-related breathing problems
This grant studies why breathing control gets weaker with age and how nerve cells that control strong breaths deteriorate, aiming to improve airway clearance and reduce pneumonia risk in older adults.
-
Menopause, aging, and everyday functioning in women
A long-term study following 3,302 diverse women to understand how the menopause transition affects health and daily functioning as they age.
-
A druggable mito-nuclear feedback mechanism that preserves mitochondrial and synaptic function in old age
A new NIH-funded program aims to understand a brain mechanism that links mitochondria to gene control, with the goal of keeping brain cells happy in aging and Alzheimer's-related dementias.
-
Respiratory control in aging: keeping breathing muscles healthy
A Mayo Clinic team is testing ways to protect the breathing muscles in people as they age, aiming to keep seniors breathing well longer.
-
How aging affects natural antibodies from a special B cell type and why it matters for older adults
This NIH grant explores how aging changes a specific B cell type that makes natural antibodies, which could influence how well older people are protected from infections.
-
How aging affects breathing control
Testing treatments that protect the nerve cells that control breathing in older adults to reduce age-related respiratory weakness.
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.