GenX Mentoring Program for Respiratory Virus Resistance

(GenX Trial)

Overseen By Teresa E Seeman, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles

Disqualifiers: Health condition risk, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a mentoring program can help older African-American men and women better fight off viruses. Participants will either begin the GenX intergenerational mentoring program immediately or after a three-month delay. The study will also explore how the program might enhance the body's defense against respiratory viruses. It suits individuals over 50 living in South-Central Los Angeles who pass basic literacy and cognitive tests and are interested in joining a mentoring program. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to innovative research that could improve community health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to consult with the trial coordinators for more details.

What prior data suggests that the GenX intergenerational mentoring program is safe?

Research has shown that programs like GenX, which involve intergenerational mentoring, have been well-received in past studies. Participants typically report positive experiences and an overall sense of well-being. This suggests that most find the program manageable.

No evidence from available sources mentions harmful effects or major issues related to the GenX mentoring program. Since the program focuses on behavior rather than medication or medical treatment, the likelihood of physical harm is low.

Prospective participants should consult the research team to understand any potential risks or concerns specific to the trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the GenX intergenerational mentoring program because it offers an innovative approach to boosting resistance to respiratory viruses. Unlike traditional treatments that typically involve medication or vaccines, this program uses social interaction and mentorship between different generations to potentially enhance immune response. By fostering relationships and shared experiences, the program aims to improve overall health and well-being, which could lead to increased resilience against respiratory infections. This novel approach taps into the power of social connections and mental health as a means to bolster physical health, providing a fresh perspective on disease prevention.

What evidence suggests that the GenX mentoring program is effective for enhancing antiviral resistance in older African-American adults?

Research has shown that programs like GenX, where older adults mentor young students, can enhance social connections and community involvement. These interactions benefit both mentors and students. While specific data on resistance to viruses is limited, this trial aims to determine if these social interactions can help the body better fight respiratory viruses. Participants in the "Immediate GenX" arm will start the GenX program activity right away, while those in the "Delayed GenX" arm will first engage in parallel training and educational activities, beginning the program after three months. Early results suggest that mentoring can improve health by boosting well-being and reducing stress, which are known to support the immune system. The GenX program is being studied to determine if these benefits lead to better protection against respiratory infections. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Steven Cole, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Professor of Medicine & Psychiatry

Teresa E Seeman, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Professor of Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for African-American men and women over 50 living in South-Central Los Angeles who can pass basic literacy and cognitive tests. They must be part of the GenX mentoring program. Those with health conditions that could worsen by joining are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Reside in neighborhood of GenX schools (South-Central Los Angeles)

I am over 50 years old.

Pass basic literacy and cognitive function tests

Exclusion Criteria

Any health condition that would put participant at risk by enrollment/participation

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Initial Intervention

Participants engage in the Generation Xchange (GenX) intergenerational mentoring program or parallel training/educational activities

3 months

Delayed Intervention

Participants in the Delayed GenX group commence the GenX program activity after 3 months

7 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for antiviral gene regulation, well-being, respiratory virus antibody concentration, pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration, antiviral cell prevalence, Type I interferon antiviral activity, loneliness, and depressive symptoms

10 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• GenX intergenerational mentoring program

Trial Overview The study is testing if the Generation Xchange (GenX) mentoring program can boost natural resistance to viral infections like RNA viruses and coronavirus in older adults from a low-SES urban community.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Immediate GenX Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants immediately commence GenX program activity (intergenerational mentoring)

Group II: Delayed GenX Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants engage in parallel training/educational activities, and subsequently commence GenX program activity after 3 months

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Los Angeles

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,594

Recruited

10,430,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05534425

Study Details | NCT05534425 | Enhancing Innate Anti-Viral ... Additional studies will identify the biological processes that promote resistance to respiratory virus infections and viral disease in older African-American ...

2. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/14893?per_page=20&recruiting=1&enrolling_by_invitation=1&active_not_recruiting=1&not_yet_recruiting=0&completed=0&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0

Enhancing Innate Anti-Viral Resistance Through A ... GenX trains older adults to collaborate with K-3rd grade teachers in mentoring high-need elementary school students in core reading and math ...

3. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/search/14E8CA0B498DC1D47598B8961CAA4A01A2FFCEB861BF/project-details/10553681

RePORT ⟩ RePORTER We're sorry but RePORTER doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Please enable it to continue.

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7121

Virtual Intergenerational Reverse-Mentoring Program ... This pilot evaluation suggests that reverse mentoring programs can be implemented virtually and may improve social outcomes.

5. toxicology.org toxicology.org/pubs/docs/Tox/2024Tox.pdf

The Toxicologist - Supplement to Toxicological Sciences The Toxicologist is the official journal of the Society of Toxicology, containing abstracts from their annual meeting, and is available in an ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31589939/

Intergenerational mentoring, eudaimonic well-being and ... This pilot study examined the impact of a 9-month intergenerational helping intervention on conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) gene ...

7. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/cid/article/81/Supplement_2/S103/8280506

Innovations in Career Development Through Mentoring in the ... Focused investigative programs targeting vaccines directed against influenza, pertussis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and rotavirus ...

8. epa.gov epa.gov/chemical-research/human-health-toxicity-assessments-genx-chemicals

Human Health Toxicity Assessments for GenX Chemicals The GenX chemicals toxicity assessment provides hazard identification, dose-response information, and derives toxicity values called oral reference doses (RfDs)