Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) awarded Columbia University's Health Sciences Division a Project Grant of $450,200 under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) effective May 15, 2026, with completion targeted for April 30, 2028. This exploratory R21 research grant supports a systematic investigation of age-dependent changes in primary sensory neurons and nociceptors, specifically examining how normal aging remodels peripheral sensory neurons housed in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The research deliverables include: (1) a cell-type-resolved morphological map quantifying age-dependent structural changes across 13 transcriptionally distinct DRG sensory neuron subtypes in young and aged mice of both sexes, and (2) functional datasets measuring how aging alters thermal and mechanical response profiles of these same neuronal subtypes using two-photon calcium imaging with precisely controlled sensory stimuli.

This innovative project combines large-scale single-cell transcriptomics with subtype-specific functional imaging to generate foundational knowledge identifying which neuronal populations are structurally or functionally vulnerable to aging. The resulting dataset will provide immediate therapeutic targets and establish feasibility for mechanistic investigations into age-related loss of skin sensation, which currently increases risks of burns, chronic wounds, and falls in older populations. Research activities will be conducted at Columbia University in New York, NY.