Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Colorado-Denver received a $429,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) for a two-year project period beginning May 1, 2026 and concluding April 30, 2028. The research initiative focuses on identifying and characterizing lysosome-Golgi membrane contact sites (LG-MCSs) as novel regulatory mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation in senescent cells. The project will deliver comprehensive proteomic and functional analyses to elucidate how these organellar contact sites stabilize the STING signalosome complex—a critical driver of sustained NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B) activation and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) expression in aged tissues.

The research addresses a significant gap in understanding the molecular mechanisms that perpetuate age-related chronic, low-grade inflammation. Through advanced molecular techniques including split-TurboID proximity labeling and quantitative mass spectrometry, the research team will generate a detailed proteomic blueprint of LG-MCSs and define their functional role in maintaining persistent inflammatory signaling without inducing senescent cell death. This work has potential to inform development of senomorphic therapies that suppress SASP expression—an emerging therapeutic strategy with fewer off-target effects compared to existing senolytics. The research supports the NIA's mission to advance biomedical understanding of aging processes and identify preventive and therapeutic approaches to age-related diseases.