Research & Fundings
Cellular senescence is one of the major players contributing to the fundamental aging process. My lab is leveraging novel mouse models and primary human cells as tools to examine the role and underlying mechanism of senescent cells in various conditions in mammals, and we aim to find new drugs to target senescent cells in order to alleviate a range of diseases as a group.
Research
We have 3 major research directions.
1. To investigate the role of senescent cells in diseases. We are especially interested in diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, frailty, bone-related diseases, bladder dysfunction, and flu infection. We will be using novel transgenic mice and transplantation models for this.
2. To reveal the heterogeneity and transcriptomic signatures of senescent cells in vivo. We will be using single cell transcriptome technology to look at the senescent cells at different tissues under different biological conditions (aging, obesity or injury).
3. To screen for novel compounds to kill senescent cells. We are in the process of screening several libraries of compounds on human senescent cells, and expect to find a number of novel candidates. We will then further test these compounds in aged mice and human tissues.
Major Funding Support
Role Title
R01AG076642 Xu (PI)
04/01/2022-03/31/2027
“Targeting p21-Highly Expressing Cells to Increase Lifespan and Healthspan in Old Age”
R01AG066679 Xu (PI) 04/01/2020-03/31/2025
Targeting p21-Positive Senescent Cells In Vivo for Alleviating Metabolic and Physical Dysfunction
R01AG068860 Zhou, Xu (MPIs) 07/01/2020-06/30/2025
Reciprocal Modulation of the Microbiome and Cellular Senescence in Metabolic Dysfunction
R03AG072374 Xu (PI) 07/01/2021-06/30/2023
Targeting P21-Highly-Expressing Senescent Cells In Vivo for Improving Cognitive Function in the Alzheimer’s Diseases
R21AG071292-01 Haynes, Xu (MPIs)
09/01/2021 - 05/31/2023
Can Senolytics Improve the Aged Response to Viral Infection?
U54AG075941 Kuchel, Garovic, Musi, Robson (MPIs)
2/1/2021-11/30/2026
Biological analysis Core (BAC) Role: BAC leader
“The KAPP-Sen Tissue Mapping Center Collaborative”
