Spring 2026 Grantee Highlight:
Sanja Vicković

Sanja Vicković, PhD

Core Faculty Member, New York Genome Center

Aging affects not only the cells and microbes that make up the intestine, but also the way they interact with one another in space. This project will investigate how age-related changes in the spatial organization of interactions between the gut microbiome and intestinal tissue contribute to intestinal barrier dysfunction and disease.

In a healthy intestine, bacteria occupy distinct spatial niches and communicate with epithelial and immune cells in ways that help maintain the intestinal barrier. Sanja Vicković’s research will investigate how these spatial relationships shift with age and whether their disruption contributes to age-associated intestinal dysfunction.

Her team will use spatial host-microbiome sequencing to simultaneously map microbial communities and gene activity directly within intact colon tissue, preserving information often lost when tissues are processed for conventional sequencing. By studying mice across multiple stages of aging, the project will identify age-related differences in microbial organization, host responses, and coordinated tissue states. The investigators will test environmental and genetic factors that may drive these patterns. These findings could help explain why aging increases susceptibility to conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

Learn more about Vicković Lab: https://www.vickovictechinnovation.com/