Understanding how the thymus ages in older adults
Official title: The anatomical and functional study of the thymus - defining the milestones of the thymic aging in the elderly human population
Funded at University of Pikeville · NIH-10940564 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the thymus, an important organ for your immune system, changes as we get older, especially in people aged 65 and up, to see if it can still make immune cells even in those close to 100 years old.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pikeville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pikeville, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $428,397 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AG078992-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10940564 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 65 and older, particularly those who are interested in the health of their immune system as they age.
✕Less likely to help
Patients younger than 65 years old or those with significant thymic dysfunction due to other medical conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the aging process of the thymus, a crucial organ for immune function, particularly in individuals aged 65 and older. The study aims to explore how the thymus changes over time and whether it can still produce immune cells in the elderly, including those who are nearly 100 years old. By examining thymic tissue from cadavers, researchers will use advanced techniques to assess the structure and function of the thymus, identifying different stages of thymic involution. This work could provide insights into immune health in older populations and how it varies among individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of immune aging and lead to improved health strategies for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: While the aging of the thymus has been studied, this specific approach using cadaveric analysis and molecular techniques is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simm, Malgorzata — University of Pikeville
- Study coordinator: Simm, Malgorzata
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.