# Intestinal Stem Cell Function During Aging and Tumor Initiation

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $15,324

## Abstract

SUMMARY
The intestinal epithelium is a rapidly self-renewing tissue that uses distinct mechanisms for regeneration
during homeostasis and injury-induced repair. Tissue regeneration is supported by heterogeneous cell
types including cycling Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) as well as reserve stem cells set aside for
times of injury. We have recently reported an essential molecular role for Wnt pathway ligands in Lgr5+
ISC maintenance and self-renewal. We have also developed novel tools for the pharmacological
manipulation of the ISC niche. While adult stem cells serve to maintain and repair tissues for a lifetime,
multiple studies have demonstrated that there is an age-related decline in the regenerative capacity of
stem cells across multiple different tissues. Our preliminary data support diminished regenerative
function in ISCs and suggest that these changes are driven by alterations in the stem cell niche that
result in decreased Wnt signaling in the ISCs. We hypothesize that age-related niche alterations drive
the impaired regenerative function of ISCs and these changes are reversible.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10339113
- **Project number:** 3R01AG067014-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Kelley Yan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $15,324
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10339113

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10339113, Intestinal Stem Cell Function During Aging and Tumor Initiation (3R01AG067014-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10339113. Licensed CC0.

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