# Accelerated biological and phenotypic aging in hematopoietic cell transplant survivors: Social support as a protective factor

> **NIH NIH K01** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2024 · $114,262

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a widely used treatment for hematologic cancers; however, many
survivors experience late effects that resemble an accelerated aging phenotype, or age-related functional
declines thought to be manifestations of aging at the cellular level. Indeed, emerging evidence suggests that
HCT can accelerate biological aging in survivors by up to 15 years. Not all survivors experience these late
effects, suggesting that modifiable behavioral factors may influence vulnerability. Given the intense
psychological and biological demands of HCT, the recovery period may represent a “window of opportunity” in
which behavioral factors such as social support may exert a particular influence. Emerging evidence suggests
that social experiences can impact key biological aging pathways in non-cancer populations; however, whether
they contribute to variability in accelerated aging in HCT survivors has not been tested. The overarching goal
of the proposed research is to examine the influence of social relationships on biological and phenotypic aging
in HCT recipients over the first year of recovery. Specifically, this project will: (1) examine associations
between social processes and symptoms of phenotypic aging; (2) examine associations between social
processes and biological aging; (3) test biological aging as a mediator linking social processes and phenotypic
aging; and (4) explore sex differences in associations between social process and biological and phenotypic
aging. Adopting a prospective design, this research will comprehensively assess survivors’ social relationships
at critical 100-day and 1-year post-HCT time points by combining reports of social support, strain, and isolation
with an innovative, in vivo behavioral observation tool, the Electronically Activated Recorder, that captures
ambient sound bites to unobtrusively assess social interactions in survivors’ daily lives. Participants will provide
reports of symptoms to characterize phenotypic aging, including cognitive, physical (e.g., fatigue, pain, frailty),
and functional complaints, and blood samples to assess biological aging pathways, including cellular
senescence, inflammation, DNA damage, and oxidative stress assessed via genome-wide transcriptional
profiling. This research has the potential to identify concrete, modifiable behavioral targets that contribute to
biological and phenotypic aging processes in HCT recipients and can be used to develop biologically informed
interventions to improve quality of life and prolong the healthspan of individuals with accelerated aging. This
career development award will expand the candidate’s existing expertise in clinical health psychology and
behavioral research by providing training in biological and phenotypic aging and functional genomics in the
context of cancer survivorship. The proposed research, along with mentorship from a team of expert faculty
(Dr. Carroll, Dr. Bower, Dr. Seeman, an...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10845457
- **Project number:** 5K01AG065485-05
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Kelly E Rentscher
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $114,262
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10845457

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10845457, Accelerated biological and phenotypic aging in hematopoietic cell transplant survivors: Social support as a protective factor (5K01AG065485-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10845457. Licensed CC0.

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