# Role of Senescence in the Impaired Wound Healing of Aging

> **NIH NIH R03** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2020 · $165,000

## Abstract

Impaired wound healing and chronic wounds in older adults are growing clinical and economic problems.
Approximately $25 billion is spent on wound care annually, which is projected to increase with aging of
populations worldwide. Recent Medicare beneficiary data estimates that almost one in five of those >75 years
old are suffering from a wound and have almost double the rates of chronic wounds compared to those <65
years old. Older adults are at increased risk of developing chronic wounds due to inherent skin fragility, impaired
intrinsic wound healing, and accumulation of comorbidities. Delayed wound healing increases risk of infections
and tissue necrosis resulting in considerable morbidity and even mortality among older adults. A major
contributor of non-healing wounds is age-related loss of cellular and molecular skin integrity and altered wound
healing physiology. This age-related decline in reparative capacity may involve accumulation of senescent cells
which obtain an abnormal pro-inflammatory, proteolytic senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)
and have negative local bystander effects within tissues. As recent data demonstrate that chronic senescence
negatively impacts tissue repair in aging, therapeutic strategies that interfere with detrimental effects of cellular
senescence, such as the selective elimination of senescent cells or SASP, are showing promise in preventing
and treating age-related pathology. This RO3 GEMSSTAR project will test the overall hypothesis that chronic
senescent cell accumulation in aged skin and wounds contributes to the impaired wound healing of aging and
that reduction of senescent cell burden can be a valuable clinical tool to improve wound healing in aged
individuals. The project will determine and measure senescent cell burden in human chronic wounds (Aim 1),
determine if chronic senescence of aged skin alters senescent cell distribution and progression during acute
wound healing. (Aim 2), and determine the effects of manipulation of senescent cell burden on the delayed
wound healing of aging (Aim 3). The results of this project will further our understanding of the role of
senescence in wound healing and explore the potential of topical senolytics in wound care and tissue repair in
aging. After completion of this project, the candidate will continue to progress towards goals of utilizing
senescence-modifying therapies for chronic wounds in the aging population. Furthermore, the combination of
this research project and professional development plan through the GEMSSTAR program will establish the
foundation for the candidate to become a clinical leader in geriatric wound care and reconstruction as a physician
scientist plastic surgeon.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10027701
- **Project number:** 1R03AG067983-01
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel Sam Roh
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $165,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-15 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10027701

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10027701, Role of Senescence in the Impaired Wound Healing of Aging (1R03AG067983-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10027701. Licensed CC0.

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