Understanding immune aging in Down syndrome
Mechanistic and functional dissection of inflammaging in Down syndrome
This project looks at how early immune aging affects people with Down syndrome, focusing on problems in naive CD4+ T cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141606 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of research that compares immune cell patterns in people with Down syndrome to those in others to see how their immune system shows signs of aging early. The team uses a new unbiased method to map immune architecture and measures cell types, inflammatory signals, and functional responses from blood samples. They will study how dysregulation inside naive CD4+ T cells and signals from other cells drive this advanced immune aging, and link findings to genes on chromosome 21. Results will be used to suggest targeted ways to improve immune responses and reduce autoimmunity in Down syndrome and related groups.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Down syndrome of any age who can provide blood samples and attend clinic visits, including children and adults.
Not a fit: People without Down syndrome or whose health issues are unrelated to immune aging or autoimmunity are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that improve immunity and lower autoimmune problems in people with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have documented signs of immune aging and increased autoimmunity in Down syndrome, but this project applies a novel unbiased approach to unpack underlying mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khor, Bernard — Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
- Study coordinator: Khor, Bernard
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.