Federal Grant Award Summary

Northwestern University's Sponsored Research Division received a $794,664 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866), awarded July 15, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2031. The research project investigates novel senescence-associated pathways to combat premature aging in people living with HIV (PWH). The study focuses on understanding why certain PWH—termed "superagers"—maintain exceptional health and resilience despite viral infection, while most PWH on antiretroviral therapy experience accelerated aging and increased age-related comorbidities. The research team will examine two primary therapeutic mechanisms: (1) targeting senescence-associated glycan-degrading enzymes (β-galactosidase and sialidase) that degrade protective anti-inflammatory glycans and drive excessive inflammation; and (2) directly targeting urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (uPAR)-expressing senescent cells to eliminate their deleterious effects on healthspan.

The deliverables include preclinical research utilizing humanized mouse models of viremic HIV infection to validate whether inhibiting glycan-degradation preserves anti-inflammatory pathways and reduces both inflammation and biological aging. This work will establish the safety and efficacy of targeting senescent cells in the HIV context—an approach previously unexplored but demonstrated effective in other animal models—with the ultimate goal of translating these findings toward clinical interventions that improve health outcomes and extend healthspan for people living with HIV.